Recent UK Passport Applicant Timelines

Passport printed 1:39pm on 17 April 2026 Application approved 4:57pm on 16 April 2026 Documents received 7:12pm on 10 April 2026 Application received 12:54am on 7 April 2026 Application submitted 12:54am on 7 April 2026

Very quick and easy process to get my child’s first passport. Had to get identity checked and send off her birth certificate and my birth certificate. Had no issues and the process from start to finish was quick. Very pleased.

Both my wifes application and mine sent in the same DHL envelope a procedure acceptable by HMPO. However it took 4 extra days for my app to be acknowledged.and several chat line calls to get things moving and, after finally communicating with a person who actually seemed to have an interest in my predicament. Just a seemingly unnecessary situation added to an already stressful experience. One other really annoying occurrence: my original person who was to confirm my identity clicked on the wrong link in one question in the app process and after realizing their mistake were then unable to go back to correct the information and their ability to continue as a guarantor was denied and I then had to scramble to find a secondary signer. How ridiculous !!!....( My original guarantor was able to subsequently sign my wife's app and this was accepted ? ) Once things did get going you can see below that the process did move along in reasonable timeframe. ( My timeline was 4 days later..) Application submitted on 20 March 2026. ...,.Passport received April 16/ 2026 Passport printed on 9 April 2026 Application approved on 9 April 2026 Documents received on 26 March 2026 Application received on 20 March 2026 Identity details received on 20 March 2026 Email sent to person confirming your identity on 20 March 2026 Ask someone to confirm your identity on 20 March 2026 Application submitted on 20 March 2026 Hope this helps .... Good Luck!

Very quick and easy process for me, I thought they’d reject my little one’s photo as it was fair but they accepted it!!

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

Applied in the afternoon of 7th April and posted old passport (which expired 23 years ago) same day from a regular post box. System updated as documents received and application approved early hours of Saturday morning. New passport received 15/04/26.

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

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

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