Recent UK Passport Applicant Timelines

Easy peasy and quickly in my opinion

Should have been straight forward but accidentally put adopted son’s birth dad’s name on the ‘previous names’ section. Sent old passport off (which was already in his new name) with adoption cert, birth cert and covering letter to explain the mistake and to avoid delays. Had a call from the agent on day 11 to double check what had happened and she approved it straight after the call. Happy with the service and timescales.

Photo was rejected because my daughter smiled a bit so took a new one with neutral facial expression and got approval after 30 mins of sending it. The application was approved on a Sunday morning.

Took a week for the passport office to state documents received. We were advised up to 3 weeks from date documents received, had the passport back 10 days after status changed to documents received.

Application was approved in 9 days from from supported docs received. It well over a week for royal mail to deliver it! Passport printed 1:48pm on 6 July 2026 Application approved 8:50am on 6 July 2026 Documents received 3:09pm on 25 June 2026 Application received 8:41am on 15 June 2026 Identity details received 8:41am on 15 June 2026 Email sent to person confirming your identity 5:35am on 15 June 2026 Ask someone to confirm your identity 9:34pm on 14 June 2026 Application submitted 9:34pm on 14 June 2026

3rd Child Passport - (2nd renewal) WARNING: Birth Certificate Document Required as additional evidence. This caused small delays, as it required purchasing new birth certificate with express next-day service for £38.50 from our local office (money making schemes). This didn't even arrive next day! I sent these in a hardback card A4 envelope at further cost via Royal Mail. Why does the Passport Office need to see the same documents again?? Awful protocols! Finally, the brand new certificate was returned, in an absolutely terrible condition, creased & folded, almost torn. Not good for those with OCD. The rest of the process from the Corby office was completed in 7 days (Documents received on 15th - Passport printed on 22nd), speed is excellent. Handling needs much improvement.

Application submitted on 1st June 2026 Documents received on 4th June 2026 Passport received on 13th June 2026

Passport printed 10:44am on 11 June 2026 Application approved 9:42am on 11 June 2026 Documents received 4:46pm on 4 June 2026 Application received 8:36pm on 1 June 2026 Identity details received 8:36pm on 1 June 2026 Email sent to person confirming your identity 11:09pm on 29 May 2026 Ask someone to confirm your identity 10:51pm on 29 May 2026 Application submitted 10:51pm on 29 May 2026

Easy and no issues experienced

Passport printed 12:56pm on 11 June 2026 Application approved 8:11am on 11 June 2026 Documents received 2:02pm on 4 June 2026 Application received 5:10pm on 28 May 2026 Identity details received 5:10pm on 28 May 2026 Email sent to person confirming your identity 6:37pm on 27 May 2026 Ask someone to confirm your identity 6:31pm on 27 May 2026 Application submitted 6:31pm on 27 May 2026

I was asked for birth certificates for both children despite this being their 3rd renewal. There was a 2 week lag in the documents being received and being scanned on to the system. The instructions were not clear which added at least a week to the processing time. It eventually required daily phonecalls and chasing for the passports to be received the day before travel.

Dual national - original passports sent Docs received 02 June Application approved 08 June

We had a delay in the offices receiving our passports as it was the bank holiday weekend so couldn’t actually be posted until the 6th May. Documents were confirmed as received on the 7th May. Application approved on 13 May, printed 14 May and delivered on the 15th.

Received 21/5/26 Passport printed 8:26am on 20 May 2026 Application approved 2:21pm on 19 May 2026 Documents received 7:08pm on 12 May 2026 Application received 1:10pm on 10 May 2026 Application submitted 1:09pm on 10 May 2026

Received 21/5/26 Passport printed 8:24am on 20 May 2026 Application approved 1:28pm on 19 May 2026 Documents received 5:58pm on 12 May 2026 Application received 12:48pm on 10 May 2026 Application submitted 12:48pm on 10 May 2026

Dual nationality. I send color copy of passport. I waited until April 22 for the confirmation of identity, which extended the process a bit.

Received a message stating that the photo wasn't good enough (shadows). Submitted a new photo and the application was approved a couple of minutes later!