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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
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
23-04-2025
Date Received:
13-05-2025
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Not an easy process. First adult passport after naturalisation. Was asked to send additional documents – my marriage certificate even though my foreign passport and naturalisation certificate had the same names! Waites a long time for it to be printed too.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
22-04-2025
Date Received:
01-05-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
They said my photo could not be used as there was not a differentiation between me and the background. I called up passport office and they said, as if was in a photobooth, just submit it and they will get in contact if it can’t be used. I did submit it and there were no problems.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
18-04-2025
Date Received:
23-04-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 3:35am on 30 April 2025
Application approved 9:26am on 29 April 2025
Documents received 8:26am on 23 April 2025
Application received 4:02pm on 18 April 2025
Application submitted 4:01pm on 18 April 2025
Sent over the Easter bank holiday
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
18-04-2025
Date Received:
01-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Arrived 1st May 2025
Passport printed 3:35am on 30 April 2025
Application approved 9:26am on 29 April 2025
Documents received 8:26am on 23 April 2025
Application received 4:02pm on 18 April 2025
Application submitted 4:01pm on 18 April 2025
Sent over the Easter bank holiday
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
26-04-2025
Date Received:
13-05-2025
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
It seems the on-line tracking via the PEX code is delayed at best. I did an over the counter Digital Check and Send at my local Post Office.
– Application Submitted: 26-Apr-25 09h48
– Application Received: 26-Apr-25 09h49
By the following Friday my documents hadn’t been marked as received, so i called HMPO, they had nothing noted as received. A visit to the Post Office the next day confirmed my documents had been delivered to HMPO on 29 Apr – they showed me the POD for the batch sent on my application date. Called HMPO again on 6 May to inform them the documents had been delivered a week previously. Miraculously my documents were marked as received 5 minutes later, but dated 6 May.
– Documents Delivered to HMPO by Post Office: 29-Apr-25
– Documents Marked as Received: 06-May-25
– Application Approved: 10-May-25 11h10
– Royal Mail delivery Notification for PEX number: 12-May-25 12:20 (for 13-May-25 delivery)
– Passport Printed by HMPO: 12-May-25 22h23
– Passport Delivered: 13-May-25 10h53
I like how Royal Mail knew they’d be delivering the passport before HMPO had printed it. Start to finish 17 days. Now just to get my supporting documents back…
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
04-05-2025
Date Received:
14-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
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1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
24-04-2025
Date Received:
10-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
17-04-2025
Date Received:
02-05-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Quick turnaround, especially with 2 bank holidays in the timeframe.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Glasgow
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
22-04-2025
Date Received:
05-05-2025
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
23-04-2025
Date Received:
13-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted : 23 April 2025
Identity details received : 23 April 2025
Documents signed for : 30 April 2025
Documents marked received : 1 May 2025
Application approved : 1 May 2025
Passport printed : 8 May 2025
Passport received (France) : 13 May 2025
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
29-04-2025
Date Received:
13-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Received on 13th May via Royal Mail (posted through letter box).
Passport printed 1:23am on 10 May 2025
Application approved 9:26am on 9 May 2025
Documents received 2:05pm on 2 May 2025
Application received 8:52am on 29 April 2025
Identity details received 8:52am on 29 April 2025
Email sent to person confirming your identity 8:39am on 29 April 2025
Ask someone to confirm your identity 8:27am on 29 April 2025
Application submitted 8:27am on 29 April 2025
1 Week Fast Track Application
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
Glasgow
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
05-05-2025
Date Received:
13-05-2025
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