Recent UK Passport Applicant Timelines

This was an application made by my Canadian/British partner. It wasn't a first application, although it was treated as such because her last UK passport expired in 1989. Like many others this year, my partner, who lives in the UK, was forced to apply for a new UK passport, as she was due to visit relatives in Canada and would not have been allowed to re-enter the UK and return home without a valid UK passport, due to the recent change in rules for dual citizens. We believe the delay in processing her application was possibly partly due to her being adopted by her mother's second husband, resulting in a change of surname, although this happened in the 1960's and all later UK and Canadian passports had the adopted surname on them. The delay has put incredible stress on my partner, who has been desperate to visit both her 90 year old father and her daughter, who reside in Canada. She has also been left severely out of pocket, as she rescheduled her original flight after learning of the change in the rules (she was due to fly to Canada in March), and consequently lost the equivalent of two return flights in value. I had also booked a flight for the both of us to Cork in May, which she also had to miss due to the airline insisting on her having a UK or Irish passport, even though the law does not require one to travel between England and Ireland if you are a citizen of either country.

Additional documents (unenrolled deed poll) requested and sent on 19/10, arrived on 20/10.

Some evidence of paternity was seen as insufficient, had to do DNA test which took an incredibly long time to organise (about 3 months) then delays at lab too.

I’m amazed at how quick it was done. Sent from Abu Dhabi UAE. Sent Monday 5th. Received by them on a Wednesday 7th. sent back the following Thursday 16th. Received Monday 19th. Printed attested birth certificate on thick paper. Used professional photographer. Baby eyes closed.

application submitted online 4 oct passport recieved 9 oct new passport arrived at home 20 oct

Passport applied for and countersigned for on 12th October. Old passport sent via RM first class signed for on 13th October. Passport received next day 14th October. At 19:15 on the same day I received confirmation from passport office to confirmed they had recieved the old passport. Approved on 21st October and delivered 23rd October.

Passport may have arrived on the 20th but I was away so unsure. Make sure you send off your old passport ASAP as they don't start processing your application until they receive the old one. I had to wait a few days to post mine so the process was probably delayed by 3 days or so. Time from receiving my old passport and receiving my new one was 8/9 days. Once my passport was printed I was told I would hear from the delivery service for updates but they never contacted me.

Passport printed 8:47am on 20 October 2026 Application approved 12:40pm on 19 October 2026 Documents received 5:51 pm on 13 October 2026 Application received 11 October 2026

Passport printed 10:39am on 20 October 2026 Application approved 6:21pm on 19 October 2026 Documents received 9:26am on 15 October 2026 Application received 10:26pm on 11 October 2026 Identity details received 10:26pm on 11 October 2026 Email sent to person confirming your identity 3:56pm on 11 October 2026 Ask someone to confirm your identity 3:49pm on 11 October 2026 Application submitted 3:49pm on 11 October 2026

HMPO was a mess, no meaningful communication, always template reply.

This was the longest I had to wait for a passport. It used to be quicker in September/October. Other than that, very straightforward. No interviews.

Passport printed 10:52am on 13 October 2026 (arrived 19th because we live abroad) Application approved 9:13am on 13 October 2026 Documents received 6:54am on 7 October 2026 (longer submit time as we sent from abroad) Application received 5:38pm on 29 September 2026 Application submitted 5:38pm on 29 September 2026

Application online from Italy. Very straightforward, no delays, no hiccups. Phone helpline very helpful

Have dual citizenships. No issues. Passport printed 8:43pm on 15 October 2026 Application approved 8:08am on 15 October 2026 Documents received 12:46pm on 9 October 2026 Application received 3:04pm on 6 October 2026 Application submitted 3:03pm on 6 October 2026

Docs received 7th Oct Application approved 14th Oct Passport Printed 14th Oct (9pm) Received 16th Oct

The documents were sent out late, which is why they were received late. However, from the time the documents were received to the new passport being delivered, it took only 5 days. This was a very efficient service. I received the old passport 9 days after the receiving the new one. Old passport received: 12 October 2026 New passport received on 3 October 2026 Passport printed 10:34am on 2 October 2026 Application approved 8:26am on 2 October 2026 Documents received 7:25am on 28 September 2026 Application received 11:21am on 12 September 2026 Application submitted 11:20am on 12 September 2026