1st Adult Passport
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Submission Date:
2022-04-26
Date Received:
2022-05-05
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Waited well over 10 weeks now. Website application tracker says documents received on 05 May. On calling HMPO they tell me their ‘system’ says documents received 30 May. No explanation as why their system is showing something different date. Can’t send foreign passport back. Finally received e-mail saying forwarded to expedited team – due to travel in 31/7 to visit family. Still no passport after all this time. Extremely stressful. Told to queue but I quote ‘lines maybe long’ outside Durham office if I wanted foreign passport back. Other end of country so that is not feasible. Shocking disgraceful service.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Submission Date:
2022-06-08
Date Received:
2022-07-21
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Although I got my passport before the 10 weeks (still waiting for documents) it was stressful with the knowledge that it could go all wrong. There is such a long gap between application received update and application approved. That’s where the stress builds up.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Submission Date:
2022-04-29
Date Received:
Not Received
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
It’s been more than 10 weeks, no replies to emails and no feedback. This is so stressful and ruined my summer plans. I don’t have my old passport nor new one to travel anywhere. Horrific experience.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-15
Date Received:
2022-07-20
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Old Passport received by the passport office on the Monday and I had my new passport delivered to me by Wednesday. Absolutely amazed by the efficient service as I was fully expecting a long wait. Can’t fault the service at all.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-12
Date Received:
2022-07-20
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Would have arrived a day earlier had we been in for the first delivery.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-14
Date Received:
2022-07-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
7 days including application and posting same day. Standard service.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-14
Date Received:
2022-07-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Quick service, extremely impressive..
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-06-17
Date Received:
2022-07-20
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
I was quite nervous about the extended processing time on the UK Gov website, and so was very relieved to see that my passport was approved and printed in good time for my planned travel.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-15
Date Received:
2022-07-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Online application with 6 day turnaround – perfect
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-17
Date Received:
2022-07-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Surprised at how fast the whole process was. Applied online on Sunday evening, posted passport 1st class recorded on Monday, got the txt to say it had been received on Tuesday, Wednesday it was approved and printed and turned up on Thursday, less than 96hrs after submitting application online….
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-14
Date Received:
2022-07-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I was very surprised about the very efficient service I received with my non-urgent online renewal application as I believed there was likely to be a 10 week delay with renewal. New passport received within 5 working days – emails received confirming receipt of online application, requesting ‘old’ passport to be sent, confirming receipt of old passport, advising application approved and then that passport in the post.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-06
Date Received:
2022-07-20
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied online from Republic of Ireland. Very quick and easy process. No stress.
Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Submission Date:
2022-06-08
Date Received:
2022-07-19
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
My boyfriend was waiting for his passport for a while, granted it wasn’t past the 10 week mark but we were going on Holiday on the 21st,
Trying to contact the passport office was a nightmare and no one was any help, we were never kept updated, except the last phone call we made, where they told us to go to Liverpool passport office to try and collect it there!
The staff outside were great, very helpful and brought out bottles of water for everyone during the heatwave, they kept us updated about what was going on. We didn’t manage to get in the Passport office the first day, but we ended up getting in on the day after.
If you urgently need your passport I would suggest going to a passport office, especially if your flight is in 48hrs and you’ve waited 6 weeks for the passport, if you fit the criteria then you’ll be in the priority queue and you’ll get in quicker, although its not a guarantee you’ll even be seen.
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Submission Date:
2022-05-04
Date Received:
2022-07-21
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Exceeded the 10 week mark but once I flagged this up to them it was expedited and was all smooth sailing from there.
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Submission Date:
2022-05-02
Date Received:
2022-07-19
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Very unhelpful staff who cut you off and advise you that they have limited access to system and keep transferring you with very lengthy waiting times.
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Submission Date:
2022-03-07
Date Received:
2022-07-20
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Application history. StatusDate
Passport printed 19 July 2022
Application approved 18 July 2022
Documents received 20 April 2022
Application received 12 April 2022
Identity details received 12 April 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 7 April 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 7 April 2022
Application submitted 11:50am on 7 April 2022
Passport sent to upgrade/expedition team 10 weeks after additional documents received (Irish passport).
Was told team was working to my date of travel which was missed.
Requested urgent callback and application was put forward again.
Callback received 3 days later, approved during that call and passport received 1 day shy of 15 weeks from applying. Still waiting for Irish passport to be returned 14 weeks after sending.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Submission Date:
2022-05-13
Date Received:
2022-07-18
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Applied 13/05, docs arrived according Royal Mail on 17/05, docs arrived according to Hemel Hempstead passport office and online tracker 27/05
The Documents request email received Friday 17th June 10.41 . Very confusing as tracker said don’t contact we have everything g we need. The email asked for mothers birth certificate and proof of citizenship. I had provided both of our passport details so this seemed nonsense to me and a mistake.
Phoned Friday 10.51 am call back promised in 72 hours. No call back
Phoned Monday 7.45 call back promised in 24-48 hours
Phoned Tuesday 21st 7.45 told I’m still on callback list and if goes to two weeks before travel can speed up application
Phone call received from a Slough number 17.18 23/06 – told email was automated and all still processing.
Email received in response to webform. For some reason can’t find details have replied with info 24/06 00.49 and no further response received back
Another email received asking for documents 10.42 Friday 08/07
Called them on 08/07 11.10am
– Went to examiner 01/06
– not passed to print
– Man to request callback for me from upgrade team within 48 hours
– Maybe Wednesday
Called on 10/07 11.32
Call back requested again
On hold for 2 hours and spoke to upgrade team 11/07
– additional documents to be stopped being requested
– Error and should just be birth certificate for child and then passport details for both parents
– Notes added to system and passed back to examiners
– Upgrade eligible 10 weeks from document receipt
12/07 – received letter dated
08/07 requesting additional documents again
14/07 approved 5.03pm
15/07 printed 00.45
18/07 arrived in post
In summary, had I not chased to speak to upgrade team (the first team on the phone are a triaging team who can’t see much on the screen and do casually make comments about presumed status) then I would not have received the passport. I do not know why additional documents we’re requested but this mistake added 6 weeks to receiving the passport and I have no idea what would have happened if I had ignored the online tracker status that just said “do not contact us if we need anything we will let you know”
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Submission Date:
2022-06-09
Date Received:
2022-07-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Tracker slow to update but no other issues.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Submission Date:
2022-06-11
Date Received:
2022-07-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Tracker updates very delayed but arrived in good time.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Submission Date:
2022-04-13
Date Received:
2022-05-16
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application was handled by the Corby office.
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-06-08
Date Received:
2022-07-19
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Applied for my son’s renewal via check and send via post office. Did this because we were worried about getting the photo right online. Turns out our post office doesn’t do photos anymore so it took even longer going to another photo shop. Then we realised it’s hard to get any info about the progress of your application when you haven’t done it online. Rang the helpline several times and got a different experience every time. Mainly very frustrating. Wish it had been clearer from the start we needed to go for a fast track application as once you have applied you can’t do this or upgrade until after 6 weeks of your passport request bring recieved, even if this is after your booked travel date.
My advice would be:
– ask the people on the helpline for all the info they have I.e. what stage is your passport at.
– email your MP who can intervene on your behalf.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-04-16
Date Received:
2022-08-31
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Passport not received, over 13 weeks wait.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-03-25
Date Received:
2022-07-21
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
I have not yet received my daughters passport 16 weeks and still waiting passport was withdrawn in error had to re apply then they have now lost the new application and we are due to fly in 3 days.
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Submission Date:
2022-05-03
Date Received:
2022-07-21
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Still not received and hasn’t even started the process yet. Also cannot access online service to view progress. After being on the phone for a total of 2.5 hours yesterday the status it remains the same as that 10 weeks ago.
Hi I had the same experience with my renewal. I live in Spain and sent my old passport as requested. i was sent various automated emails asking for birth certificate etc which is not needed for a renewal. After 12 weeks or so with no luck trying to call them, I found a form online which stated that if you lived abroad you need to send proof of address or proof of residence. I sent this and received my passport within a few weeks. A simple request for this at the beginning would have saved a lot of stress. Hope this helps someone else.