1st Adult Passport
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-03-30
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very easy! First photo was rejected as too dark, but resubmitted & approved.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-03-10
Date Received:
2022-04-19
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Truly abysmal. banana-republic type standard of service. The only good thing in the whole process was that my passport was delivered swiftly, in relative terms (it took 2 days).
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-03-29
Date Received:
2022-04-20
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
This was actually a renewal from a child passport to an adult passport, so not technically a “true” first adult passport as there were less checks required. I applied for two child to adult passports at the same time – this one took 3 weeks and the other 4 weeks. Both were sent to different centres despite applications made within minutes of each other. Notifications were good although the Post Office tracking vs the updated received time by the Passport Office were markedly different. Make sure the photo is compliant – that’s pretty much the only thing that will delay this type of application. But all in all, very smooth.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-04
Date Received:
2022-04-26
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very easy – excellent service. Website slow to update status
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-08
Date Received:
2022-04-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
went smoothly – 3 week turnaround.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-12
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted – 12/04
Application received – 12/04
Documents received at Corby passport office (sent next day delivery) – 19/04
Application approved – 21/04
Passport printed – 24/04
Passport delivered – 28/04
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-07
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
Very quick process! Done a renewal and name change as I’ve got married! Took 3 weeks from start to finish
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-09
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
No problems at all and arrived in under three weeks, great service.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-07
Date Received:
2022-04-26
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Newport Office
Passport Delivered 13:06 on 26 April 2022
Passport printed 9:13am on 25 April 2022
Application approved 2:49pm on 22 April 2022
Documents received 10:29am on 20 April 2022
Sent Old Passport to Newport 9:30 on 8 April 2022
Application received 5:23pm on 7 April 2022
Application submitted 5:23pm on 7 April 2022
19 days total turnaround. Waiting times changed from 5 weeks to 10 weeks after I submitted. Lots of anxiety inducing stories in the media but very pleased with 19 day turnaround. Received a text whenever there was progress with my application. Take care when submitting your online application so that it never comes off digital processing into manual. From my research seems like if you get updated that your passport is “processing” it’s gone manual and thats where the delays are.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-05
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
All worked smoothly – only stressful part was 2 week delay between old passport being signed for in Durham and this being acknowledged in the system. Once this had been done, passport was approved, printed and delivered within a few days.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-03-02
Date Received:
2022-04-27
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
This length of waiting time was completely unflagged at point of application – 4 weeks was given. A major trip including memorial was cancelled. The helpline appears to be staffed by people reading from a script and on a couple of occasions the call was cut off. Two of the staff were empathetic and I did eventually have call back from further up the management chain only to have the standard 10 week waiting time mantra repeated back at me. An email appeal to the London Emergency Travel Requests remains unanswered. I asked a one point if I could just have my old passport back as it still had plenty of validity left. I was told they had an email for the Corby office, though it would take a week for the email to be answered. It has been a painful experience and I am now wiser. Less time on political recolouring and more on providing the documents governments themselves demand from us would be much appreciated.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-03-27
Date Received:
2022-04-26
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Well within 10 week time frame. They even called me to check my middle name saving it from being returned to me/rejected.
I experienced good service overall.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-01
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I was panicking after reading some horror stories, but 28 days for me start to finish.
Durham office, Old passport as documntation
Application history
StatusDate
Passport printed 6:41pm on 25 April 2022
Application approved 10:18pm on 21 April 2022
Documents received 4:30pm on 19 April 2022
Application received 8:54pm on 1 April 2022
Application submitted 8:54pm on 1 April 2022
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-04
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Still no information on when documents will be returned. Tracking website still doesn’t mention that it’s shipped (despite it’s arrival)
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-14
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very surprised at how quick the process was!!! Really simple and easy process.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-04
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Apart from a long anxious two week wait to receive the notification Durham passport office had received my old passport the rest of the process was very speedy!
Delivered 9am 28th April
Passport printed 7:40pm on 26 April 2022
Application approved 12:31pm on 25 April 2022
Documents received 2:06pm on 21 April 2022
Application received 8:04pm on 5 April 2022
Application submitted
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-10
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
My application was an Adult renewal with a name change (maiden to married). After seeing the horror stories, I rang the passport office and sent a web form asking whether it was more advisable to cancel and have my documents returned. I never got a web form response but the lady on the phone was helpful and reassuring about the update service if I needed it. I would advise reading all the HMPO guidance for their employees to see what will get your application approved quickest. Also save the stress and opt for Fast Track in the first place if you can afford it!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-13
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Remarkably rapid processing time despite two bank holidays between application and approval.
Application history
StatusDate
Received 10am 28 April
Passport printed 10:09pm on 25 April 2022
Application approved 10:32am on 22 April 2022
Documents received 3:40pm on 19 April 2022 (posted on 14 April, but four day weekend delayed delivery)
Application received 9:55pm on 13 April 2022
Application submitted 9:55pm on 13 April 2022
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-13
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
Straight forward, me and my partners passports, both sent to different offices. 15 days from application to landing on the mat.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-12
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
This one was super easy, but 4 more not even into processing and Royal Mail made it worse as they cannot tell me if they have delivered the documents sent recorded delivery!!!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-10
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport arrived much faster than expected
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-04
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport Received 28 April 2022
Passport printed 9:55am on 25 April 2022
Application approved 3:22pm on 21 April 2022
Documents received 11:58am on 15 April 2022
Application received 12:51pm on 4 April 2022
Application submitted 12:51pm on 4 April 2022
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-03
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Longest wait was for them to confirm my old passport had arrived with them, that was 2 weeks! The rest very quick.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-13
Date Received:
2022-04-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 11:56am on 25 April 2022
Application approved 5:27pm on 21 April 2022
Documents received 11:44am on 18 April 2022
Application received 11:46am on 13 April 2022
Application submitted 11:46am on 13 April 2022
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-15
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Easter weekend delayed me sending off old passport. Sent special delivery which was delivered on Tuesday 19th. Received new passport today (9 days later)
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-12
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
The government website stated 5 week turnaround time at the time I submitted our applications (5 of them), the next day it removed that and reverted back to 10 weeks overall. I have been quite anxious thinking we’ve left it too late and our 3 year wait holiday is going to be cancelled again. However we’ve got our 2 adults passports back in 2 weeks and one child renewal is just printed now so I expect that in the next few days. Still concerned that docs for my other two children have not had their docs acknowledged yet but hoping there is time in the next few days. Once the docs are acknowledged turnaround time seems pretty quick. 5 passports are being dealt with at 3 offices. Corby very efficient 1 adult and 1 child renewal processed within 2 weeks, Bootle good for the adult renewal but not heard about our first child passport for there. Peterborough still waiting for 2nd child renewal docs to be acknowledged.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-03-27
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Online form and submission was really easy, wait has been a bit stressful. We asked for a call back from an agent as passport had been approved and it was cutting it fine with our travel plans (less than a week) and never got a call which added to the stress, but in the current circumstances it’s fairly understandable.
Gaps between notifications for us were as follows:
– Identity confirmed by friend – same day
– Birth certificate sent next day delivery
– Documents marked received – 11 days after posting
– Passport approved – 28 days after submitting form
Printed – 30 days after submitting form
Delivered – 32 days after submitting form
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-02-01
Date Received:
2022-03-29
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
It took a long time for status to be updated with documents received. Then from approval to print took a while plus zero communication on the delivery. Very inconsistent service.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-03-30
Date Received:
2022-04-26
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Despite lots of anxiety caused by horror stories online and in the press about all the delays we had a good experience. It took less than 4 weeks (we travel in mid-May, so was worried it would be longer than 7 weeks!)
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-02-14
Date Received:
2022-04-25
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
a perfect example of a messy and chaotic process. worst part was the communication!! especially the contradicting input and advise we have been provided with along the very long waiting time.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-03-22
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Online tracker is rubbish and not in real time – passport arrived before the tracker said it had been sent.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-03-18
Date Received:
2022-04-27
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
I was pleasantly surprised by the speed of the process after worrying about all the reports I’d read. It did take 10 days from Royal Mail delivering documents to the passport office marking them as received.
Passport received 27th April
Passport printed 9:01am on 26 April 2022
Application approved 1:12pm on 23 April 2022
Documents received 5:05pm on 7 April 2022
Application received 11:02pm on 24 March 2022
Identity details received 11:02pm on 24 March 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 3:32pm on 18 March 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 1:54pm on 18 March 2022
Application submitted 1:54pm on 18 March 2022
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-03-24
Date Received:
2022-04-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Was very worried having read all the recent experiences but turned out we were lucky and everything went smoothly.
Child Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Child Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-04
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied for other child’s first child passport at the same time and it hasn’t been looked at yet. Seems like it’s the luck of the draw as to how long you wait.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-03
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Tracker did not update to show documents received for over 2 weeks which was quite stressful but after that the process moved quickly.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-03
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Tracker was not updated to show documents received for over 2 weeks which was quite stressful but after that the process moved quickly.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-05
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Took nearly 2 weeks to confirm receipt of old passport.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-04
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Took ages to acknowledge arrival and then all happened very quickly once signed in.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-13
Date Received:
2022-04-26
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
This was using the Bootle office. They quickly acknowledged receipt of the documents and we received the passport quickly. I have another application going via the Peterborough office, submitted on the same day with documents posted and received (according to Royal Mail) on the same day. They have only today (28/04/2022) acknowledged receipt of the documents for the Peterborough application. Clearly some very different timescales between passport offices (I was aware Peterborough was notoriously slow so my heart sank when the address came up on one of them). Will provide a separate update when we eventually receive the other passport.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal (Online)
Submission Date:
2022-04-12
Date Received:
2022-04-28
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
I have set the submission date as the date the photo was authorised as delays before that were down to us. The online process including photo authorisation is much quicker and easier.
Overseas Applications
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Submission Date:
2022-02-25
Date Received:
2022-04-26
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Took 9 weeks from start to finish when it was advertised as 5 weeks when I applied. I spent hours on the phone to customer service who were little to no help and told me conflicting information. My application was stuck on “documents received” for a month. Had to reschedule my holiday. I’m based in Ireland so extra time for postage either end should be less than a week.
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Submission Date:
2022-02-25
Date Received:
2022-04-27
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Extremely stressful, until a miracle happened. I applied in February thinking this was plenty of time before my travel date, May 1st. A week ago my passport still hadn’t been approved, it was still processing. I spent many hours trying to get through on line, successfully and unsuccessfully. One day I was cut off 47 times until I got through to someone on the process team. It took just over 7 hours. This is the exact number, not an exaggeration. I can’t believe it myself either! I was told it was highly unlikely I would receive my passport before the 1st May. And It was possible it might be even 13 weeks. I was extremely anxious as my trip is for work, a 6 month contract abroad.
Then last Thursday I received a phone call from the registrar in Belfast, who informed me my passport would be fast tracked, and I would receive it today, which I did. I’m extremely grateful at this unexpected kindness. I can’t thank her enough. It was totally out of the blue. So lesson learned.. apply in plenty of time and don’t give up hope.
