1st Adult Passport
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Submission Date:
2022-06-14
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport received 9:00am on 28 July 2022
Passport printed 4:48am on 27 July 2022
Application approved 9:55am on 26 July 2022
Documents received 11:19am on 21 June 2022
Application received 7:02pm on 14 June 2022
Identity details received 7:01pm on 14 June 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 6:48pm on 14 June 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 1:52pm on 14 June 2022
Application submitted 1:52pm on 14 June 2022
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Submission Date:
2022-06-15
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Process was fairly easy. Status took a few extra days to change to “Documents received” after they had arrived in the post (I used tracked post). Once approved, it was printed the next day and I had my passport in my hands the day after. Now to wait for the original documents to be sent back (they are sent separately).
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Submission Date:
2022-05-16
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
By the week 10, I called HMPO to ask for update (Press 8 then 3). Talked to a very nice lady who told me to email their escalated service, but had to provide a proof of travel. Emailed and the next day my application got approved, the day after passport got printed and sent off. Received via TNT at 4.10 pm.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-16
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
16/7/22 – Applied online with own photo.
18/7/22 – Old passport posted at Post Office
25/7/22 – Old Passport received at Passport Office Belfast
26/7/22 – New passport approved
27/7/22 – Passport printed.
28/7/22 – Passport received
12 days start to finish. Two days for me to post the old passport, Royal Mail taking 7 days to deliver the old passport and the Passport Office taking only 3 days to process and deliver the new Passport. What a fantastic service, I was amazed when it showed up so quickly. Kept informed by text and email throughout the process. Online application, if you can, is the way to go.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-20
Date Received:
2022-07-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Awesome, I cant believe how fast the Passport Office turned this round. I was fast to send off my old passport on a next day delivery and my digital photo upload was approved first attempt which also helps.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-20
Date Received:
2022-07-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Did the online form, and the only issue was the photo recognition – my eyes aren’t equal levels and so it thought I was looking away or tilting my head. I ended up submitting a “fair” and explaining this. Application was Tuesday, the old passport was mailed on Wednesday, and acknowledged on the Friday, with approval, printing and posting on the Monday and delivery Tuesday!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-20
Date Received:
2022-07-26
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Excellent service. Was concerned with all the publicity etc around people having to wait up to 10 weeks but to have my new passport back within a week is truly amazing.I did the application online which was very easy.One factor that may have helped was that I got my photograph take in a photo booth to ensure the photograph met the necessary requirements and which was approved for use by the Passport Office. All I needed then to do was quote the reference number on the photos that were produced and enter it on the application.I sent my existing passport by signed for delivery to the Passport Office on 21/7.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-05
Date Received:
2022-07-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Excellent service!
Only 16 days got a new passport!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-06-23
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Thankfully I got lucky and my passport arrived in good time for my holiday. There does appear to be some inconsistencies however. I submitted my daughters renewal a week after mine and her’s arrived 5 days later. Good luck to everyone.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-17
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I submitted my online application with digital photo upload on Sunday 17th July. I sent away my old passport on 21st July which was received on 22nd. Passport was approved on 25th, printed 26th, sent 27th and received 28th. I live in Glasgow but it was sent to Peterborough. 11 day turnover overall which I was really pleasantly surprised at. I fly in 5 weeks so was really concerned about not receiving it in time. Would recommend using the online service and digital photo upload. Thanks.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-21
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Much better experience than I was expecting considering reports of the backlog.
Applied on line 21st July and sent old passport back same day (to Bootle)
Old passport received on their system 25th July
Application approved 26th July
Printed 27th July
Received 28th July via TNT
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-22
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Wow. 4 working days. Amazed.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-06-30
Date Received:
2022-07-08
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Sent on line June 30th and email came 5 minutes later!l Sent old passport July1st email came July 5 saying received email next day approved and being printed received new passport july8 old passport next day!!! Excellent service well done all concerned!!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-20
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Submitted my application online on 20/07/22.
Returned my old passport via first class recorded delivery on 21/07/22.
This was received on 22/07/22. They updated as received on 25/07/22.
Approved 26/07/22.
Printed 27/07/22.
Delivered 28/07/22.
Informed every step of the way, no issues at all.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-21
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
So grateful for this website. Was going to pay for fast track but noticed passport applications from 1 July are taking a week so thought I’d take a chance!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-22
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Just as we were about the check in (2 weeks before holiday) my son realised his passport had expired. I was gutted. Tried to book a fast track but there were no appointments available, tried to change holiday dates but it was too late so had no choice but to send it off. I had resigned myself to the fact we were going without him. Is applied for a new passport for my daughter the month previous and that took bang on 2 weeks to get back. But I applied online and sent passport off that same day with next day delivery (to Hemel Hempstead). We got it back in 6 days!! Oh wow!! So happy. It was so easy and the updates online and text were great. Cannot fault the service! They saved our summer.
Passport printed 6:20am on 27 July 2022
Application approved 12:51pm on 26 July 2022
Documents received 1:04pm on 25 July 2022
Application received 2:02pm on 22 July 2022
Application submitted 2:02pm on 22 July 2022
Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Submission Date:
2022-05-12
Date Received:
Not Received
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
13 weeks – still no passport, due to travel in one week and escalated services have been emailed twice as advised by passport contact centre but NO response.
Nobody who I speak to has any empathy and all I’m told is will have to wait/ call back/ someone will call back but nothing!
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Submission Date:
2022-04-26
Date Received:
2022-07-22
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
I submitted my application using the check and send service and waited 3 weeks before chasing it up, as per the advice on the government website. I sent off my information and waited for a response but ended up filling out the form multiple times in an attempt to get an update on my application. I called the advice line and was told that they had limited information and would have to transfer me to the correct team of people who could tell me more. I never spoke to these people despite the number of calls I made or call-backs I was promised. I ended up phoning again 10 weeks after my application was sent off and I was told I could expedite my passport for free since it had been so long, but when I was put through to the processing team I was left on hold for over 2 hours. When I next spoke to someone I was told I could fast track my application but for over £100, so I decided to wait even longer. Eventually I phoned when I had a flight booked and was told that the office that had my application would phone me back in order to confirm my flight and get my details so that my application could be processed quicker. I never received this call but my passport was delivered a few days later.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Submission Date:
2022-06-23
Date Received:
2022-07-25
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Documents received for the application on 28th June. 4 weeks then for passport to be received by us.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Submission Date:
2022-06-07
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Applied for son’s first passport on 7th June standard online application. (£49) A fast track appointment became available the next day so I booked that so ensure the passport comes on time. (£127) we drove 2 hours to Durham for the fast track appt and we’re turned away because we already had an application in progress. £127 + fuel costs down the drain. Nowhere we’re we told this is not allowed. Had to then proceed with the standard application. After 6 weeks, I rang up to upgrade, by sending proof of travel tickets via email, the request was put through pretty quickly. There were no email acknowledgments or responses so was quite stressful. I then waited about 4 days to receive a no caller ID call from someone from the passport office, I’m glad I was by the phone at the time. They took a payment of £102 and said it would be processed. We were told to collect but I asked for it to be posted, she repeated told me it would not guarantee delivery, I took the risk and the passport arrived 2 days later leaving 2 days before travel. In total this passport has cost me £278, numerous phone calls on hold, fuel costs and stress. I did also contact my local mp who I don’t think was particularly helpful but I think they did try to contact on our behalf.
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-18
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Had to submit another photo but seriously surprised at how quick this was.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-05-03
Date Received:
2022-07-27
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
child renewal from overseas, wow what can i say, it was SOOO stressful, i checked daily on the web updates, and nothing, after 10 weeks of waiting i started to call the passport line, i was on hold for hours at a time, then the phone would drop, i did get to speak to many reps that pretty much couldn’t help, they were really nice but really didn’t help at all.
By week 12 i called and asked to speak to the management team, i was on hold for 90 mins and the call dropped, i called back over the next few days and the same thing, i got through to a rep that said oh we will have to arrange a call back, i heard nothing, another rep said oh its waiting to be checked, another rep said we can try and fast track but it will cost you, i was cool to pay but after 10 weeks i read that they can’t charge to fast track
So, i then emailed ” escalatedservice@hmpo.gov.uk ” and ” DurhamUpgradeTeam@hmpo.gov.uk “within 2 days i got a passport application approved and then 4 hours after that i got passport printed and sent, i did email each one 3 times just to make sure there was no disappearing into cyberspace happened, but i think maybe the emails work faster than the calls, c=for me it sure did, now I’am just waiting for it to be delivered.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-05-01
Date Received:
2022-07-25
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Nobody on the helplines seems to be trained at all, or have any knowledge of the process. Once the application was moved to the expedited service team, it was dealt with quickly and professional but, before that, I’m not sure what if anything was actually happening!
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-18
Date Received:
2022-07-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
So easy, 9 days, and this included needing to submit a new photo too!
1 Week Fast Track Application
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Submission Date:
2022-05-17
Date Received:
2022-05-21
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
Excellent experience in difficult times.
I decided to go straight for fast track despite having 8 weeks until our holiday for my baby’s first passport. This was the best decision I made.
3 week wait for appointment.
Appointment Tuesday 17th May 2pm.
Passport through door Sat 21st May 1pm.
Experience at the passport office was excellent. Very efficient, polite happy staff.
I honestly cannot fault the fast track service. Completely worth the money to save my stress levels.
