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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 With Interview
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
09-04-2025
Date Received:
30-04-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
9/4/25 – applied
9/4/25 – asked someone to confirm identity
10/4/25 – identify details received
10/4/25 – application received
15/4/25 – documents received
22/4/25 – photo received (first one got rejected)
28/4/25 – Application approved
28/4/25 – passport printed
30/4/25 – passport received
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
11-04-2025
Date Received:
23-04-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application date – 11/04/25
Documents received – 15/04/25
Application approved – 21/04/25
Passport printed – 22/04/25
Passport received – 23/04/25
Very quick turnaround considering the four day long Easter holiday!
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Other I took the photo at the photo-me. But the application didn’t accept the code.. it gave me the error of the background. I scanned the same picture and uploaded it again. It was accepted as a scan.
Submission Date:
05-04-2025
Date Received:
30-04-2025
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
My documents reached the office on 8th April, but the application wasn’t updated for 10 days, so on 17th April I emailed them asking for an update and they asked for the tracking number. Soon after the application showed ‘documents received’. On 23rd I received an email asking for the documents. I emailed and called several times to let them know that I had already sent them and that they should have received them. After 3 days of calls they eventually found the documents. On 25th they application was approved and 29th I received the British passport and on 30th the supporting documents.
It was extremely stressful.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
16-04-2025
Date Received:
29-04-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very quick and smooth process throughout with regular updates. Less than two weeks including Easter holidays!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
25-04-2025
Date Received:
30-04-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
08-04-2025
Date Received:
23-04-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Adult reveal with name change
Passport printed 7:58am on 20 April 2025
Application approved 3:39pm on 17 April 2025
Documents received 8:26am on 14 April 2025
Application received 2:20pm on 8 April 2025
Application submitted 2:20pm on 8 April 2025
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
16-04-2025
Date Received:
30-04-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I applied on 16th April, but due to Easter they did not receive my old passport until the 22nd April. So overall it was pretty fast given that Easter was in the middle.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
17-04-2025
Date Received:
18-04-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
May have been quicker without the Easter weekend.
Due Out for Delivery 1 May 2025
Passport printed 2:43am on 30 April 2025
Application approved 2:19pm on 29 April 2025
Documents received 4:14pm on 23 April 2025
Application received 1:47pm on 17 April 2025
Application submitted 1:47pm on 17 April 2025
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1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
11-04-2025
Date Received:
26-04-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
10-04-2025
Date Received:
30-04-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Amazing!!
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
18-02-2025
Date Received:
24-04-2025
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Other Professional photo with upload to digital service
Submission Date:
11-04-2025
Date Received:
29-04-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
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