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
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-12-15
Date Received:
2022-12-23
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-12-15
Date Received:
2022-12-23
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-11-24
Date Received:
2022-12-23
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Since there were issues with the delivery of my documents to the passport office (by Evri), I had to wait for a week until they’ve confirmed they got it. I know it’s written on their tracking page (about the gap in updates) but still, it was quite stressful. Then, they said the passport been approved, and then it’s been printed. The last comment on the PO tracking site says:”Your new passport will be transferred to our delivery supplier in the next few days. When it’s ready for delivery, they will contact you with a tracking reference.”
I’ve received it already.
There was no secure delivery whatsoever. The courier just slipped the envelope thru the letterbox. No ID verification, no signature. Nothing.
And i’m still waiting for my original documents I’ve sent to the PO (British Citizen certificate and other passports).
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-12-15
Date Received:
2022-12-22
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very prompt service. Applied online on 15th, sent old passport back on 16th, so would have arrived on 19th. Got a message on 21st saying old passport received, another saying it had been approved, then another on 22nd saying it had been printed and dispatched and it arrived the same day.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-12-18
Date Received:
2022-12-23
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Received the day before Xmas eve within 3 days of them receiving my old passport. I can’t believe it!! A brilliant Xmas present.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-12-06
Date Received:
2022-12-20
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
The delay between my old passport being received and acknowledge by HM Passport Office was 8 days.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-12-19
Date Received:
2022-12-23
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-12-02
Date Received:
2022-12-23
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Most of this time was waiting for Royal Mail to deliver my old passport, sent by 1st Class Signed for Delivery on 2nd, but not delivered until 17th. Passport Office then took less than a week to process and deliver new passport. Very good service from them.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-12-16
Date Received:
2022-12-23
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2022-12-17
Date Received:
2022-12-23
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
The longest wait was for Royal Mail to return my old passport. Once it had been received, my new passport arrived within 3 days (not 10 weeks as published on the .gov website…)
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-12-02
Date Received:
2022-12-23
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Took 2 and a half weeks after posting before I got ‘passport recieved’ notice but then only 3 days for it to be printed and arrive on my doorstep. So something odd in their process but 3 weeks end to end is very good.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-12-11
Date Received:
2022-12-22
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-12-15
Date Received:
2022-12-23
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport arrived in just 8 days right before Christmas too
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-12-08
Date Received:
2022-12-22
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-12-11
Date Received:
2022-12-22
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-12-14
Date Received:
2022-12-23
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-12-14
Date Received:
2022-12-23
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very simple and efficient
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-12-14
Date Received:
2022-12-23
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very simple and efficient
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-12-04
Date Received:
2022-12-28
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Old passport returned 1st class signed for but didn’t arrive at passport office within 2 weeks so ended up having to cancel it to enable application to proceed. From the point the old passport was cancelled new passport arrived within 8 days.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-12-17
Date Received:
2022-12-24
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-12-14
Date Received:
2022-12-22
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-11-24
Date Received:
2022-12-27
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Applied via VFS a agency based in Bali to renew my UK passport overseas. It was difficult to ascertain where I had to go to renew my passport and what email address I needed send to , to book an appointment with them. Once submitted the renewal request arrived in the UK 4days later and I had no update until today on the 26th December when the agency (VFS) emailed to state my new passport had arrived.
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-12-13
Date Received:
2022-12-24
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-12-08
Date Received:
2022-12-23
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I used my own photo I took at home and had no issues. The process was really quick. My passport was lost though so I don’t know if they sped it up due to that. I was super surprised with how quick it took! They also use DHL to post and they were super fast (I live in Australia)
