Recent UK Passport Applicant Timelines

Application received Feb 16 2026 Documents received Feb 24 2026 (DHL express, sent Feb 16, 2026) Application approved March 5 2026 Passport printed March 6 2026 Passport received March 11 2026

Passport printed 10 March 2026 Application approved 8 March 2026 Documents received 27 February 2026 Application received 23 February 2026 Application submitted 23 February 2026

Overall pretty straightforward. Changed name (added a middle name), so renewed my passport: submitted an old passport, Statutory Declaration for Change of Name (I live in Scotland), utility bill in a new name. Submitted online application on Sunday, 22nd of February. Sent old passport and other docs to Corby Office on 23/02/2026 with special delivery. Royal Mail delivered docs on 24/02/2026 HMPO marked "received documents" on 27/02/2026 Application approved on 09/03/26 Printed on 10/03/26 New passport and original documents with an old passport delivered on 11/03/26 in separate envelopes.

I applied for my child's fast track on 2nd March and made an appointment for Saturday 7th March. This was not at Bootle but Liverpool City Centre, not far from the Liver Buildings and opposite one of the train stations. They were great at the appointment, we arrived 10 minutes early (it states arrive no earlier) seen straight away and were out before our official appointment time. The examiner said expect to received the new passport in the post by the following Saturday at the latest, so 7 days after the appointment. Nothing happened on the Sunday but it was printed Monday 9th March and received in the post on the morning of Tuesday 10th. Thank you Liverpool office. Expensive but worth it.

I was told it would take 4 weeks for my passport and this would not include the delivery times. However, I got my passport in under 3 weeks, which is great considering how busy they are right now.

Very straightforward. For comparison my partner submitted application in same date , old passports were returned on same date but to be processed at a different centre. My partner's application is still awaiting approval.

Submitted 15/2 Sent documents 17/2 (late afternoon) Documents delivered by RM 20/2 (early morning) Documents received by PO 23/2 (evening) Photo [‘amber’ rating] rejected 4/3 (early morning) New photo [‘green’ rating] submitted 5/3 (2:14pm) Application approved 5/3 (2:15pm) Printed 6/3 (early morning) Delivered 7/3 (morning) This was an adult renewal with name change

Overall good experience once docs received. The delay in post or HMPO getting through received post caused some stress. I had trouble with photo as the ones Australia Post took didn't accept. They took one on my phone that did accept. It was good having the online photo checker up front of passport application to know instantly whether photos were acceptable. Australia Post said it was ok to send my doc's (old passport and photocopy of Australian passport) back by standard post. I regretted this as had no way of checking where documents were. HMPO chat told me to report old passport as lost after 4 weeks. That day, the documents were marked as received so I didn't have to report it lost. Applied 20 Jan (docs sent that day) Docs received 19 Feb Approved 28 Feb Printed 2 March Delivered 9 March Communication great throughout with SMS updates and good DHL tracking information including 2 hour delivery window.

longest part was waiting for royal mail to send our documents despite having paid extra for next day delivery

They asked for more evidence because my naturalization took place in August last year (2025). I wish they could add this information on their website when you are asked to send your first set of documents.

Mildly stressful mainly due to having to send a written physical letter to state why I’m applying from outside the UK. I get it’s a fraud prevention measure but it cost an additional $40 postage and a week of time that could’ve been avoided via a secure online portal. It is 2026 after all.

I sent the first lot of requested documents but then had to send two further lots, neither of the two extra lots of documents were acknowledged on the time line on the passport office list

Process was relatively straightforward however we had flights booked prior to changes so was stressful waiting for approval and delivery with upcoming flights and tight deadline. Originally asked for only colour photocopies of current passport but then they requested original the sent so postage was double the cost due to this and made for a longer process - frustrating they just didn’t ask for passport upfront.

I had to send extra documents which delayed receipt by a week

I had to send extra documents

Documents received 20.02 but scanned on 24.02, was getting a bit nervous as flying beginning of April but that was my fault for applying late.