Recent UK Passport Applicant Timelines

23/03 - submitted application 24/03 - posted documents 25/03 - documents received 26/03 - application approved 27/03 - passport printed 8am (10am got a text with tracking info from Royal Mail!). 28/03 - passport delivered

I had used an image taken at home and wasn’t accepted. Went to a photo place 4hours after the text and submitted the new one, was accepted within minutes, needed to then verify me with someone else, sent my friend the link and was accepted again within minutes. All on a Saturday may I add, if you complete the actions as soon as you get the notifications, you won’t be delayed :)

Very stressful not to be able to fast track part way or realise in advance document scanning would take 11 days

Thirty one days overall. Reasonably straightforward but DHL left my item at the front door. No signatures.

Updated for name change Submitted 07/03/2026 Documents delivered 09/03/2026 Documents not marked received until 15/03/2026. More frequent updates in this time period would have been helpful Received call about name change documents 24/03/2026, approved half an hour later after clarification Approved 24/03/2026, printed 25/03/2026 Delivered 26/03/2026

Timeframe very quick. Just took me awhile to get original documents as my father was born in the UK 113 years ago!

HMPO no longer accept multilingual international Formula A birth certificates. I was unaware of this during the application and was instructed to send additional documents. This then required obtaining a certified translation of my child's German birth certificate (extra cost of €60).

Post Office digital check and send was very easy. Old passport was received at the Passport Office three days later. Application was approved twelve days after submission. Old passport was returned fourteen days after submission and the new passport was received on the fifteenth day.

Only real concern was time taken from delivery of documents to being told they had been received. This took 6 days from application.

I sent my old passport on the 2nd Mar and they showed as received on 6th Mar. On the 16th Mar I realised I forgot to send my current foreign passport so I sent photocopy on the day. I also received a request for further supporting docs the same day, which I also sent on the day. These were never marked as received but I spoke to an agent daily via webchat providing the Royal mail tracking numbers. On Sun 22nd Mar I was notified my application was approved. I received my passport on the 25th March.

Note this is one of 3 child first time passports for overseas. We had imminent travel (3/25/2026) pre-booked before the dual citizens rules came into effect. As soon as I realized this would affect the children we took action. 2/19: Application submitted / identity confirmed / Appplication received 2/20: Documents mailed via DHL 2/24: Documents delivered 2/26: Documents marked as received 3/9: Request for more documents to show lineage as mother (English) was born after 31 Dec 1982 / Documents mailed after confirming with a phonecall 3/10: Documents delivered 3/14: Called passport office to confirm they didn't need anymore information and to explain we had imminent travel 3/15: Application Approved 3/17: Passport printed and sent 3/18: Delivered to Epsom Relay @ 06.20 3/23: notification of delivery the next day of passports and supporting documents by DHL 3/24: Passport and supporting documents received I have to say everyone I spoke with at the passport office were amazing they were knowledgeable, kind and understanding.

The service was very easy and quick, except there was a delay in my documents being scanned as recieved, I talked to them on the chat and it was escalated and scanned the next day. Application submitted online 5 March Sent documents delivered 9 March Documents scanned as received 12 March Application approved 22 March Passport printed 24 March Passport delivered 25 March

My application was a very easy renewal, only needed my ID verified. Photo was professional and on website said good, but it was declined. 2nd photo was taken on phone, on website said fair. This was approved

It was relatively easy and customer service were helpful but I know they thought my daughter’s birth certificate was a copy and it wasn’t so when I called, they documented that it was real. My documents took 8 days to be marked as received though.

Overly complicated having to send my mother’s birth certificate when she is already a British passport holder. Don’t understand why they are not able to see her citizenship status when I’m applying for my passport.