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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:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
25-09-2025
Date Received:
19-11-2025
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
It was really stressful for first Adult passport, previous country name format different then western format, the HM passport can’t approve it until they got the confirmation from
the Home Office is the same person, took nearly 7-8weeks. very frustrating.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
04-11-2025
Date Received:
21-11-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Application submitted on 4 November 2025.
Documents delivered (as per Royal Mail tracking) on 7th November but marked as received by the office on 14th November.
Passport printed on 19th November 2025.
Received passport (and supporting documents) on 21st November 2025.
Only downside is that, as others mentioned, documents were returned in a normal envelope and not a cardboard one, which meant that my naturalisation certificate was slightly crumpled.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
25-07-2025
Date Received:
14-08-2025
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
17-11-2025
Date Received:
25-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Other Profesional photographer
Submission Date:
15-11-2025
Date Received:
27-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
London
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
23-10-2025
Date Received:
27-11-2025
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
My name on the citizenship certificate was missing a hyphen. This issue was referred to UKVI.Had to wait for the correction
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
London
Photo Method
Other Photographer
Submission Date:
14-10-2025
Date Received:
27-11-2025
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Other Photo studio
Submission Date:
19-11-2025
Date Received:
28-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Both passport and submitted supporting documents arrived 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:
17-11-2025
Date Received:
26-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Received: 26 November
Passport printed 1:35pm on 24 November 2025
Application approved 12:06pm on 21 November 2025
Documents received 1:56pm on 19 November 2025
Application received 8:38am on 17 November 2025
Application submitted 8:37am on 17 November 2025
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
19-11-2025
Date Received:
26-11-2025
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Other Independent photographer with code
Submission Date:
10-11-2025
Date Received:
19-11-2025
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
Sent old passport with Evri (£2.99) on the afternoon of the 10th. Delivered on the 13th. “Received” by HMPO on the 17th. Approved and printed on the 18th.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
10-11-2025
Date Received:
21-11-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Application submitted: 10th Nov
Documents posted: 11th Nov
Documents received: 14th Nov
Application approved: 18th November
Passport printed: 19th November
Passport received: 21st November
This was for a passport replacement due to damage. My initial photo was rejected and I had to submit another. Was also asked for an individual to confirm my identity.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
29-10-2025
Date Received:
18-11-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Other Photographic shop
Submission Date:
14-11-2025
Date Received:
21-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
13-11-2025
Date Received:
20-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Current passport received officially online on 17th November although tracking showed someone signed for it on Friday 14th. Nothing added to the portal over the weekend then sent on the 19th and arrived on 20th. I fretted a bit about my photo as the company had to lighten a part of it but it was clearly good enough. #winning
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
11-11-2025
Date Received:
19-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
09-11-2025
Date Received:
19-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Ordered on the 9th Nov online
Returned old passport 11th Nov
Document acknowledged 13th Nov
New passport approved 14th Nov
New passport printed 17th Nov
Delivery details received 18th Nov
Passport received 19th Nov
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Other Post office
Submission Date:
10-11-2025
Date Received:
19-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Other Max speilman
Submission Date:
20-11-2025
Date Received:
25-11-2025
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:
20-11-2025
Date Received:
26-11-2025
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
Applied Thursday 20th, posted old passport same day which was received at Hemel Hempstead the following day.
Received my new passport Wednesday 26th.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
17-09-2025
Date Received:
30-09-2025
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:
19-11-2025
Date Received:
27-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
19-11-2025
Date Received:
27-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Standard service – sent passport off on Thursday morning (first class, not tracked) and received back on the following Thursday
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
18-11-2025
Date Received:
26-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
17-11-2025
Date Received:
28-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
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Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
05-09-2023
Date Received:
26-09-2023
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
13-11-2025
Date Received:
27-11-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Was stressful as online tracker did not update
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
21-11-2025
Date Received:
28-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
13-11-2025
Date Received:
22-11-2025
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:
20-11-2025
Date Received:
29-11-2025
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
20-11-2025
Date Received:
29-11-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 9:37pm on 27 November 2025
Application approved 3:08pm on 27 November 2025
Documents received 10:57am on 26 November 2025
Application received 7:48pm on 21 November 2025
Identity details received 7:48pm on 21 November 2025
Email sent to person confirming your identity 12:20pm on 21 November 2025
Ask someone to confirm your identity 7:11pm on 20 November 2025
Application submitted 7:11pm on 20 November 2025
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
19-11-2025
Date Received:
27-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Quick turn around and ready for our trip at Christmas. Normal passport application, didn’t opt for the express. Took my childs picture on my phone and submitted. Send the return passport the next day by tracked express delievery. Also paid the extra for the delievery back (think it was an extra £5). Was a little worried I did it too late as we travel 18th December. But turn around was quick.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
13-11-2025
Date Received:
21-11-2025
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
14-11-2025
Date Received:
21-11-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
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