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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:
27-08-2025
Date Received:
16-09-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
03-09-2025
Date Received:
18-09-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed on 17 September 2025
Application approved on 16 September 2025
Documents received on 9 September 2025
Application received on 4 September 2025
Identity details received on 4 September 2025
Email sent to person confirming your identity on 3 September 2025
Ask someone to confirm your identity on 3 September 2025
Application submitted on 3 September 2025
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
26-05-2025
Date Received:
22-09-2025
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Little to no response, sat reviewing documents from 7 July until 17th of September. No updates.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
London
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
08-08-2025
Date Received:
19-09-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
02-09-2025
Date Received:
17-09-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Submitted application on 2nd September
Sent old passport on 6th September
Old passport received on 8th September
Application approved on 15th September
New passport received on 17th September
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Other
Submission Date:
04-09-2025
Date Received:
18-09-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Even with me putting down the wrong gender by mistake after a easy quick phone call it was sorted out. Passport received within the 2 weeks amazing service thank you so much.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Other Post Office
Submission Date:
05-09-2025
Date Received:
18-09-2025
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:
07-09-2025
Date Received:
19-09-2025
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:
29-08-2025
Date Received:
18-09-2025
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Thought it would have been quick and easy as straightforward adult renewal but unfortunately not. For some reason they seized on the fact that my name was changed as a child and wanted evidence of this, even thought there was no name change for this passport (this is my third passport in my current name and my name change was registered on my revised birth cert which they would have seen when issuing my first passport). Called them to query this and was just told “that’s what the examiner asked for” so I ended up sending my birth certificate (at more expense). Royal mail tracking says HMPO received it 11 September but It’s not linked up with my case until I call (again) on 16 September. Happily it was straightforward after that and approved, printed and sent shortly after. Although let’s see if they actually manage to sed my birth certificate back to me…
Application history
Passport printed 1:24am on 17 September 2025
Application approved 10:13am on 16 September 2025
Documents received 9:39pm on 1 September 2025
Application received 2:49pm on 29 August 2025
Application submitted 2:49pm on 29 August 2025
Note no mention of receiving the birth cert on the tracking at all!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Other Snappy Snaps
Submission Date:
10-09-2025
Date Received:
20-09-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very easy and straight forward. Realised the tracking service only updates at end of day. Also if you use the application reference (PEX xxxx) on Royal Mail, you can track the delivery before the Passport Office even emails or texts.
Received on the 20th of September in the morning.
Passport printed 11:12pm on 19 September 2025
Application approved 9:12pm on 18 September 2025
Documents received 9:28pm on 11 September 2025
Application received 1:13pm on 10 September 2025
Application submitted 1:13pm on 10 September 2025
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Other Max Spielmann
Submission Date:
08-09-2025
Date Received:
20-09-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Standard Online Application
Application Submitted 8/9/2025
Old passport signed for by Passport Office 10/9/2025
Confirmed as received in the status tracker 11/9/2025
Application approved 18/9/2025
Passport printed 19/9/2025
Passport delivered 20/9/2025
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
09-09-2025
Date Received:
20-09-2025
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:
05-09-2025
Date Received:
20-09-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport received- 11:54am on 20 September 2025
Passport printed 7:20am on 19 September 2025
Application approved 12:15pm on 18 September 2025
Documents received 11:15am on 11 September 2025
Application received 4:11pm on 5 September 2025
Application submitted 4:10pm on 5 September 2025
The only reason, i’m giving it a 5/5 is due to the amazing customer support server I had. I made a mistake on my application and when I first called, the first customer support wasn’t helpful at all, stress me out so much. But I called again and the second person was so helpful, and helped get my issue sorted quick.
If you get Corby as where you need to get your new passport, it won’t be as quick as the other place i’ve seen.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
15-09-2025
Date Received:
20-09-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Submitted application 15th
Sent special delivery 16th
Royal Mail tracking showed delivered 17th
Tracking updated 18th
Passport delivered 20th
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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:
02-09-2025
Date Received:
11-09-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Wouldn’t of took so long if I didn’t have to get a replacement birth certificate but overall their service was pretty quick!
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Durham
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
20-07-2025
Date Received:
21-08-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Other
Submission Date:
04-09-2025
Date Received:
18-09-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Super fast 2 weeks from start to finish. Brilliant service.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Other Max spielman in Tesco
Submission Date:
04-09-2025
Date Received:
04-09-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Super fast very impressed. Only 2 week from start to finish.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
06-09-2025
Date Received:
20-09-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
08-09-2025
Date Received:
18-09-2025
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
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