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Whether you’re eagerly waiting for your passport or planning to apply soon, this page offers valuable insights from others who have gone through the process.
How This Page Works
Every day, applicants like you share their passport application experiences on our site. They provide:
- Application Date: When they submitted their passport application.
- Receipt Date: When they received their new passport.
- Photo Method: How they obtained their passport photo (e.g., at home, pharmacy, professional service).
- Processing Office: The passport office or centre that handled their application so you can check to see how quick the agency you have been assigned is processing passports.
Additionally, applicants often share helpful tips and observations that can assist you in managing your application or understanding current processing trends.
Stay Informed
Monitor the latest wait times and gain a realistic expectation for when your passport might arrive based on real-world data. Knowing what to expect can ease anxieties and assist in planning your travels.
Compare Processing Times
See how different agencies and photo methods impact processing speeds. This can help you choose the best options to potentially reduce your wait time.
Learn from Others
Benefit from the experiences of fellow applicants. Many share crucial advice, like which agencies are processing faster or tips for avoiding common pitfalls.
Share Your Experience
Help us keep this page accurate and useful by submitting your own passport wait time once you receive your passport. Your contribution will assist others and contribute to a clearer picture of the current processing landscape.
1st Adult Passport
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
16-06-2024
Date Received:
08-08-2024
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Passport printed 6 August 2024
Application approved 6 August 2024
Documents received 24 June 2024
Application received 17 June 2024
Identity details received 17 June 2024
Email sent to person confirming your identity 17 June 2024
Ask someone to confirm your identity 16 June 2024
Application submitted 16 June 2024
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
23-07-2024
Date Received:
08-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed: 1:22am on 7 August 2024
Application approved: 8:00am on 6 August 2024
Documents received: 12:24pm on 30 July 2024
Application received: 3:32pm on 23 July 2024
Identity details received: 3:32pm on 23 July 2024
Email sent to person confirming your identity: 3:04pm on 23 July 2024
Ask someone to confirm your identity: 2:59pm on 23 July 2024
Application submitted: 2:59pm on 23 July 2024
I paid £5 for my documents to be returned the next day so I received my documents and passport on the same day.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
15-07-2024
Date Received:
17-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
This was a name change to0.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
22-07-2024
Date Received:
06-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Straightforward renewal – no change to any details. UK citizen.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
25-07-2024
Date Received:
06-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Straight forward adult renewal. Tracking was a bit slow to update though as partner had confirmation from Royal Mail to say they’d got it before he got confirmation that his passport had been dispatched on the HMPO site. Overall very impressed though.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
20-07-2024
Date Received:
01-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
22-07-2024
Date Received:
03-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application Submitted – 22 July
Application Received same day
Documents Received -25 July
Photo Rejected -1 August
New Photo Received same day
Application Approved same day
Passport Printed – 2 August
Passport Dispatched same day
Passport Received – 3 August
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
31-07-2024
Date Received:
08-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Quite a lot quicker than I was expecting. Worth sending old passport recorded delivery.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Other Professional Photographer
Submission Date:
27-07-2024
Date Received:
08-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 1:30am on 7 August 2024
Application approved 8:38am on 6 August 2024
Documents received 5:29pm on 30 July 2024
Application received 1:57pm on 27 July 2024
Application submitted 1:56pm on 27 July 2024
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
31-07-2024
Date Received:
09-08-2024
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
25-07-2024
Date Received:
07-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application Submitted: 25Jul24
Old Passport Sent (Special Delivery Guaranteed Saturday): 26Jul24
Old Passport Received: 30Jul24
Application Approved: 05Aug24
Passport Printed: 06Aug24
Passport Received: 07Aug24
I added a note with my old passport containing the application reference – not sure if this helped with the processing.
Not worth sending guaranteed Saturday delivery, as it wasn’t accepted at the office until Monday.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
25-07-2024
Date Received:
07-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application Submitted: 25Jul24
Old Passport Sent (Special Delivery Guaranteed Saturday): 26Jul24
Old Passport Received: 30Jul24
Application Approved: 05Aug24
Passport Printed: 06Aug24
Passport Received: 07Aug24
I added a note with my old passport containing the application reference – not sure if this helped with the processing.
Not worth sending guaranteed Saturday delivery, as it wasn’t accepted at the office until Monday.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
05-08-2024
Date Received:
08-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Excellent experience, fast, good communication, no issues.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
04-08-2024
Date Received:
09-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
02-08-2024
Date Received:
05-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
28-06-2024
Date Received:
12-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Other Went to proper passport photo place – idphotoshop.co.uk – behind Trafalgar Square
Submission Date:
29-07-2024
Date Received:
10-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
30/7 – Documents collected from home by Royal Mail
1/8 – Delivered as per Royal Mail tracking
2/8 – Acknowledgement of receipt from Passport Office via text/email
9/8 – Notification of application being approved
9/8 – Notification that passport being printed
10/8 – Delivery today
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
30-07-2024
Date Received:
30-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 10:09pm on 9 August 2024
Application approved 1:06pm on 8 August 2024
Documents received 12:54pm on 2 August 2024
Application received 8:02pm on 30 July 2024
Application submitted 8:01pm on 30 July 2024
Very quick and pleased! Just over a week including the weekend! Got delivered today (Saturday 10th August 2024)
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
30-07-2024
Date Received:
10-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 10:09pm on 9 August 2024
Application approved 1:06pm on 8 August 2024
Documents received 12:54pm on 2 August 2024
Application received 8:02pm on 30 July 2024
Application submitted 8:01pm on 30 July 2024
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1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
25-07-2024
Date Received:
09-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I applied online and it was very easy. I had my baby on the floor with a plain white cloth under him for the photo. I used an app from Google play store to help make it the right specifications. The day after I got the photo signed online by a family friend who is allowed to verify passport photos. Once he verified, the passport office asked for the birth certificate to be sent (check what you need to send from their request) Since it was a Saturday, we lost a couple days for postage. Thereafter I got updates from passport office every few days until I received the passport. All in all about 2 weeks. Not bad. Thanks for this website in helping. Thanks to the passport office for being super efficient. Back in the day you’d be waiting forever.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
24-06-2024
Date Received:
30-07-2024
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
25-07-2024
Date Received:
08-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
03-06-2024
Date Received:
26-06-2024
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Application was easy but wording was confusing for parents being married which caused the delay as we had to send our marriage certificate.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
19-07-2024
Date Received:
19-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
29-07-2024
Date Received:
30-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 7:33am on 8 August 2024
Application approved 7:38pm on 7 August 2024
Documents received 4:12pm on 1 August 2024
Application received 7:53pm on 30 July 2024
Identity details received 7:53pm on 30 July 2024
Application submitted 5:31pm on 29 July 2024
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Please select
Submission Date:
29-07-2024
Date Received:
09-08-2024
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
Delivered: 11:50am 9/8/24
Royal Mail text: 12:47pm 8/8/24
Passport printed: 1:33am on 8/8/24
Application approved: 10:51am on 7/8/24
Documents received: 7:54am on 1/8/24
Application received: 4:04pm on 29/7/24
Application submitted 4:04pm on 29/7/24
Sent old passport 1st class signed for 29/7/24 5pm. Royal Mail tracking never updated to say signed for however, received fine.
12 days in total from application to receipt of passport. Very easy and efficient process.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Other Authorized shop that gives a qr code
Submission Date:
14-07-2024
Date Received:
08-08-2024
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Been waiting 4 weeks, sent 2 child passport renewals at the same time and one came back within 10 days and I’m still waiting for the other. Status has be stuck at ‘old passport received’ now for over 3 weeks. Customer support can’t offer any help or answer my questions. They did confirm that it was looked at on 23/7 but can’t explain why it wasn’t processed. They did say that it was a straight forward renewal and they don’t need any other info! Yet it still isn’t being processed…
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
25-07-2024
Date Received:
07-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
22-07-2024
Date Received:
03-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
25-07-2024
Date Received:
07-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
22-07-2024
Date Received:
03-08-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
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