Recent UK Passport Applicant Timelines

Docs received March 23rd Application approved April 8 Printed April 10th Received April 16th UK passport expired in 1986

Would have had the passport earlier but had to re book the interview as I forgot to print off my settlement status. But from submitting everything on Monday I got my passport on Wednesday

The problem with the photos was exasperating. The information required (not even documents at this point) that you only find out about once you are completing the application, when they should state this at the outset, such as parents birthdates/marriage date, places of birth/marriage and that you will need their passport date of issue and number, if they have a valid one. Then the list of required documents - and you only get it once you've handed over the money. The constant stopping and starting to gather information which they can provide at the outset if they put their mind to it. The fact we have to send original documents, with the fear of them being lost (literally happened to my husband). And the wait. The wait. The wait.

applied 12/2/26 sent documents 26/02/26 via DHL which included certified photocopy of NZ pp with cover letter explaining why couldn't send actual pp, my BC, my parents BC & MC, mothers expired ukpp. HMPO acknowledgement of received docs 2/3/26. approved and printed19/3/26, left UK24/3/26 arrived NZdhl 27/3/26.picked up by nzpost 30/3/26 sat on it til delivered to me on 2/4/26. my verifyer (with ukpp) didn't receive email from hmpo, so had to forward email link to him. so process from when hmpo received my docs to approval was 17 days.

Passport printed 1:39pm on 17 April 2026 Application approved 8:59am on 17 April 2026 MP contacted HMPO 15 April 2026 Documents received 10:07am on 3 April 2026 (tracked by Royal Mail as delivered on 26 March) Documents sent 10:27am on 24 March 2026 Application received 12:24am on 17 March 2026 Identity details received 12:24am on 17 March 2026 Ask someone to confirm your identity 4:17pm on 16 March 2026 Application submitted 4:17pm on 16 March 2026 The application finally was looked at and approved only after our MP contacted HMPO on our behalf, 1 month after submitting the application! Really poor.

Wed 8th - applied Wed 8th - royal mail sent via post NDD Fri 10th - received passport (takes 2 days for them to update) Thurs 16th - approved Fri 17th - printed Sat 18th - passport arrived

Applied 23:30 Tues 7th April Posted documents Wednesday 8th Documents delivered by rm 9th Documents received on timline 10th Approved 16th Printed and dispatched 17th In hand 12:30pm 18th

Documents sent 31st March by Royal Mail Special Delivery Royal Mails confirmed received 1st April updated 4th April on application as received 12th April asked to book interview slot 16th April attend interview at 8:45am 16th April Application approved at 8:55am 18th Passport Received

Adult renewal with name change UK Application submitted 1/4/26 Documents received 9/4/26 (Easter public hols) Application approved 16/4/26 Posted 17/4/26 Recieved 18/4/26 I found the online tracking really useful and the process stress free. I expected it to take longer when the website suggests within 3 weeks of documents received

Application online on 31.3.26, old passport sent same day. Recorded as delivered by Royal Mail on 1.4.26 but not acknowledged received by passport office until 5.4.26 (this was the Easter weekend) Approved 12.4.26, printed 14.4.26, received 15.4.26 Overall 15 days which is fine given the Easter weekend in the middle

Application submitted: 23/03/2026 Documents posted: 23/03/2026 Royal Mail marked documents as received: 25/03/2026 Marked as received on application: 29/03/2026 Additional documents requested: 05/04/2026 (They requested (1) Proof of me living in the UK (2) Proof of my titles) Additional documents sent: 05/04/2026 Additional documents delivered: 08/04/2026 Application approved: 12/04/2026 Passport printed: 14/04/2026 Passport delivered: 15/04/2026

Maybe a slight delay because I lost the Days over Easter

I did also change my name. However it took 5 days from them receiving my documents (according to RM) to them being marked as received.

We mailed our documents in the UK during a visit, which saved time and money. We were unexpectedly asked for a letter from the non-applying parent to confirm approval of the application; we would have had that ready earlier had we known it was required.

Had to send additional documents but made sure to send them in advance to avoid delays.

Very smooth and quicker than expected, considering it was over the Easter period.