Recent UK Passport Applicant Timelines

All information should have been asked for upfront, additional evidence was asked for (despite correctly answering original online form ) resulting in additional postage costs and incurring longer wait.

After applying it took me 10 days until I found someone in my circle who was eligible to confirm my identity. Then it took me like a week for me to send them the documents since I did had to order a new birth certificate (lost of my first one). After that it went smoothly!

Needed a first UK Passport since naturalisation in 2014. Been travelling on my NZ passport fine since then. Got caught last minute seeing, by total chance, the new Dual Citizenship law just 3.5 weeks before (and unbooked) trip away home. Process was annoying in that they later asked for a proof of address (Drivers License) and to "Explain why you are not applying for a passport in your country of birth". This was submitted ASAP but then had to also get a Teams Interview in place which lost me almost another week. Not sure why I was dragged through the coals here, stressing about my trip home, but at least the total time was about 20 days. Delivery of UK Passport and documents - 14:04 on 6 February 2026 2 x Notification of parcel from Royal Mail - ~16:00 on 5 February 2026 Passport printed - 9:49pm on 4 February 2026 Application approved -11:38am on 4 February 2026 MS Teams Interview - 11:15am on 4 February 2026 Interview Booked (next available) - 12:00pm on 29 January 2026 Interview Request Email/Text - 11:52am on 29 January 2026 Extra Documents sent (Royal Mail 24 Hour) - Extra Documents request (Address/Letter) - Documents received - 2:20am on 22 January 2026 Application received - 12:23pm on 19 January 2026 Identity details received - 12:23pm on 19 January 2026 Email sent to person confirming your identity- 12:12pm on 19 January 2026 Ask someone to confirm your identity- 9:22am on 19 January 2026 Application submitted (Post Office Digital Check & Send) - 9:22am on 19 January 2026

Process quite straightforward and communication from the passport office quite efficient (from application online to tracking to receiving my passport)

Easy to use, sent check and send through post office

First Adult Passport after naturalisation. Passport Received 28 January Supporting documents received 27 January Passport printed 9:04am on 27 January 2026 Application approved 11:20am on 25 January 2026 Documents received 3:10am on 22 January 2026 Application received 11:51am on 20 January 2026 Identity details received 11:51am on 20 January 2026 Email sent to person confirming your identity 11:46am on 20 January 2026 Ask someone to confirm your identity 11:41am on 20 January 2026 Application submitted 11:41am on 20 January 2026

All went really well and much quicker than expected.