Feedback, experiences, timelines, tips and useful information from people that have recently been through the UK passport application process.
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1st Adult Passport
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Submission Date:
2022-06-20
Date Received:
2022-07-25
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
No complaints, the service was good. I am only waiting for my documents which were submitted while applying.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Submission Date:
2022-06-22
Date Received:
2022-07-27
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Had to send all my passports from other countries plus my new certificate of British citizenship. I paid for express delivery and I’m still waiting for them to return them to me.
They asked me twice to get someone to confirm my identity. It was relatively fast but the lack of communication and updates is, as always, shit for the amount of money they charge you.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-17
Date Received:
2022-07-25
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
We sent 4 renewals together but for 4 different passport offices across UK via first class signed delivery, this one was received 2 days later, and it was quick and got passport within next 3 days.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-14
Date Received:
2022-07-20
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
All done at my local post office digital .. excellent service my renewal. Came back within the week !!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office
Liverpool
Submission Date:
2022-07-23
Date Received:
2022-08-01
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Really straightforward online, would have probably been even quicker if weekend had not got in way of returning old passport.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-05-06
Date Received:
Not Received
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Sent passport for a renewal as damaged new in the 6th May 2022. Its now the 2nd of August 2022 and its still not got the the check or printing stage Expedited Service via email and usual reply I’ve emailed relevant team to process urgently absolutely mental still no movement.
I m still waiting had to input a received date to be able to post but still waiting for the new passport waited less than 2 weeks last time.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-22
Date Received:
2022-08-01
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I renewed my out of date passport on line. It was easy to follow and it took about 20 minutes.
I got my new passport this morning. I can not praise the speed and efficiency of the passport service enough.
From my experience they have done a really great job.
WELL DONE
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-27
Date Received:
2022-08-01
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
This is my amazing experience regarding my postal passport renewal at Liverpool. Having used my passport 3 times in the last 6 months and the need to have it renewed for another trip, this time to Singapore in October, I was a bit worried after listening to lots of stories about massive delays that I may not receive it back in good time to book the holiday. I had no choice but to take the chance.
I am so happy this morning that my passport has been delivered safely. I sent my passport off 1st class on Wednesday evening to Liverpool Passport Office, I received a text advising they received it the next day on Thursday, then on Friday morning I had a text confirming that my application was approved and that afternoon it was printed and ready for despatch – I could not believe that at 8.30 this morning (Monday) my passport had been delivered!! A total 5 days including the weekend, they literally received my passport, printed it and posted it back to me within 48 hours (assuming they don’t work at the weekend!)
I hope this is reassuring to people that you can get your passport back in good time and that they are not all delayed for weeks or even months!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-19
Date Received:
2022-07-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I had renewed my passport last year but had to change to my married name, which may have been why it was so quick.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-05-03
Date Received:
2022-08-01
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Waited well over the 10 week guideline. Once the passport was approved it only took 3 days to arrive.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-05-01
Date Received:
2022-07-26
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Horrible experience. Customer service rubbish .working from home with basic computer. All they have to say they can’t help and I just have to be patient!! 13 weeks of waiting and my flight for wedding drawing do close. After getting MP involved and making two trips to ppt office, received my passport less than 24 hrs before my flight
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool
Submission Date:
2022-07-24
Date Received:
2022-07-29
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
Excellent
Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Submission Date:
2022-04-01
Date Received:
2022-07-01
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Worried as baby’s took only 6 weeks and holiday was coming up fast luckily arrived in time
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Submission Date:
2022-06-19
Date Received:
2022-07-21
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
Passport received 23 July 2022
Passport printed 5:05am on 22 July 2022
Application approved 10:04am on 21 July 2022
Documents received 10:45am on 27 June 2022
Application received 11:16am on 20 June 2022
Identity details received 11:15am on 20 June 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 10:16am on 20 June 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 1:16pm on 19 June 2022
Application submitted 1:16pm on 19 June 2022
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Submission Date:
2022-06-18
Date Received:
2022-08-01
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Received 01/08/2022
Passport printed 6:18am on 29 July 2022
Application approved 1:04pm on 28 July 2022
Documents received 9:31am on 4 July 2022
Application received 9:21pm on 23 June 2022
Identity details received 9:21pm on 23 June 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 9:49am on 23 June 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 8:07pm on 18 June 2022
Application submitted 8:07pm on 18 June 2022
I made an error when filling the application so it further delayed my daughter application.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Submission Date:
2022-04-25
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Had to cancel my travel plans twice….The worst ever experience…
Finally after 12 weeks reached out to local MP and they called the Passport office, which I think helped us.
After the MP called we received the passport within 2 days.
Passport printed on 27 July 2022
Application approved on 27 July 2022
Documents received on 13 May 2022
Application received on 25 April 2022
Identity details received on 25 April 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity on 25 April 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity on 25 April 2022
Application submitted on 25 April 2022
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool
Submission Date:
2022-06-24
Date Received:
2022-08-01
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
After much research I found most first child passports are approved in 3-4 weeks from when the documents are received. This was true of my child’s as well.
The people at the call centre cannot tell you anything more about the status of your passport than what appears on your tracking page, so phoning them is a waste of time.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Submission Date:
2022-05-13
Date Received:
2022-07-29
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
The not knowing is the most stressful part, along with hearing of other families who applied after us, and got their passports within a month. You can’t do anything of real value until 2 wks before you travel and then it’s most likely you’ll only hear 2 days before you travel. They can turn things around VERY quickly. I got a call from the upgrade team at 12pm they were ready to approve my son’s passport and my partner picked it up at 3pm from London. It’s just the not knowing when and if you’ll get that call.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Submission Date:
2022-05-24
Date Received:
2022-08-01
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Totally and utterly stressful experience.
Applied for first child passport. Holiday booked in jan 2021 then late 2021 I got pregnant. Had to wait for my baby to be born and given a birth certificate to apply for passport. Couldn’t get a fast track appt online no matter how many times I tried. So I applied 24 May by post office check and send- this was exactly 10 weeks until I was due to travel. Docs acknowledged as received by text on 26 May.
Since then I’ve telephone the advice line I can’t even tell how many times. Found calling them totally useless.
In meh experience this helpline are pointless until the 2 weeks before travel mark. I then called and asked for fast track upgrade. They don’t let you do this until 2 weeks before travel. Had to email all docs etc and was told to wait to hear. As I didn’t trust them I kept calling and I felt like they were taking great delight in telling me there was no guarantee that I would receive a passport before I travelled. Not helpful.
Anyway heard nothing and got MP involved (although there isn’t much they can do). Asked for case to be escalated and had to email all docs date of travel etc to the email. Told to just wait- totally stressful.
Anyway received a random call from no caller ID yesterday afternoon- 3 days before travel. Was told the application would be approved and arranged to pick it up from Liverpool office today. I now have my little boys passport after a completely horrible few months of thinking I had to make a decision on whether to lose £4k+ on a holiday I booked before he was even conceived or leave him at home at 12 weeks old with my parents.
My advice is to pester as much as possible at the 2 weeks before travel mark. Ask to upgrade and if you’re close to or past the 10 weeks since submission mark as to escalate as it’s 2 different things. Don’t think any point before that as the advice line have absolutely nothing to do with HMPO. They can only ask to upgrade escalate cases on your behalf but have no clout at all.
If all else fails I know of people and saw with my own eyes people turn up outside the office without an appointment with 48 hours or less to travel. Cutting it fine, but I saw it work.
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-23
Date Received:
2022-08-01
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Photo taken, application completed online and old passport sent special delivery on the 23rd July. Text to say old passport received on the 26th. Application approved 28th. Passport printed 29th. Delivered early on the 1st August.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-17
Date Received:
2022-08-01
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
We sent 4 renewals together but for 4 different passport offices across UK, this one was not acknowledged as received until 10 days later, but once acknowledged, it was quick and got passport within 3 days.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool
Submission Date:
2022-07-19
Date Received:
2022-07-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Really smooth process, emails received at every stage and having read some horror stories about waiting times, I was amazed to get my sons renewed passport (over 12 yrs) through in about 10 days from start to finish. My daughters renewal (under 12) isn’t so far being quite as straightforward but fingers crossed!
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Submission Date:
2022-02-19
Date Received:
Not Received
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
I live in Vancouver Canada, I sent the application February 19th 2022 for myself and my wife, they received the documents 23rd February 2022 -I sent my old expired passports – original birth certificate – pictures of every page of our Canadian passport (35 coloured Pages x 2). No response until June when they told me they needed our marriage certificate, no photo copy accepted, I sent the Marriage Certificate by registered mail and despite the tracking shows they received it they are denying it. Now on July 30th we got a letter are now demanding more information from the witness that verified my identity saying they did not get his info yet they received it months ago. They keep asking for information they already have.
So to date I have spent over 300pounds – sent my original British Passport, Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Copy of every page of my Canadian Passport ( 35 pages x 2), passport photo and signed info of witness identifying me and my wife, copy of bank statement showing our name and address, Utility Bills with our name and address, Voter Card with our name and address, This has been an extremely stressful experience, sat up during the night 4 times on the phone trying to get someone to help to no avail, 30 + e-mails back and forth hopeless. Now they are threatening to cancel my application on Aug 14th and keep my money, all my personal documents and will not release them for a year! I cannot believe they are putting us through this my wife is in tears, How can they do this ? it is like living a nightmare, is there no one that can help ?
