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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
Other Post office took my photo
Submission Date:
29-04-2025
Date Received:
24-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very easy submitted all document took 2 weeks to scan onto my application but after that was very quick
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
London
Photo Method
Other Snappy Snaps
Submission Date:
12-05-2025
Date Received:
29-05-2025
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
The timeline was very fast but it was stressful along the way. Documents were delivered within 24 hours after online submission of the application however receipt by by HMPO was not until 7 days after, only after I queried it and provided tracking numbers. A few days later, was contacted again to provide most recent foreign passport (which was sent with the supporting documents) – ridiculous as the passport sent was in date so there was no reason to ask for another one! After much back and forth about not having another passport – the passport was approved and printed within a couple of days. Basically, a lot of stress for nothing! Could have been a much smoother process.
Passport received on 29 May 2025
Passport printed on 28 May 2025
Application approved on 26 May 2025
Documents received on 19 May 2025
Application received on 12 May 2025
Application submitted on 12 May 2025
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
13-05-2025
Date Received:
28-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted: 13 May
Identity confirmed: 14 May
Application received: 14 May
Documents sent: 14 May
Documents delivered: 15 May
Documents confirmed received: 20 May
Application approved: 26 May
Passport delivered: 28 May
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
20-05-2025
Date Received:
29-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
04-03-2025
Date Received:
12-03-2025
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:
13-05-2025
Date Received:
28-05-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
The passport service tracking platform has delayed updates. It seemed to only be updated after each time I got in contact with them to enquire.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
15-05-2025
Date Received:
28-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very straightforward. Received shipping information from Royal Mail before notice from passport office that it had been shipped.
Passport printed 10:15pm on 27 May 2025
Application approved 2:00pm on 23 May 2025
Documents received 2:50pm on 19 May 2025
Application received 4:02pm on 15 May 2025
Application submitted 4:02pm on 15 May 2025
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
16-05-2025
Date Received:
28-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 11:11pm on 27 May 2025
Application approved 2:24pm on 23 May 2025
Documents received 3:45pm on 19 May 2025
Application received 9:16am on 16 May 2025
Application submitted 9:16am on 16 May 2025
They seemed to stop updating the website at some point but I received a notification from Royal Mail to say they had my passport and were delivering it the next day, and it arrived on the 28th. Not bad considering there was a bank holiday in the middle.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
13-05-2025
Date Received:
29-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed | 6:39am on 28 May 2025
Application approved | 10:36am on 26 May 2025
Documents received | 3:03pm on 20 May 2025
Application received | 5:26pm on 13 May 2025
Application submitted | 5:26pm on 13 May 2025
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Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Newport
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
17-05-2025
Date Received:
28-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Was flying out on the 2nd of June so needed a quick passport rang up passport office and they told me to apply normally after reporting my passport as lost
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
12-05-2025
Date Received:
28-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport received – 28th May
Passport printed – 6:20am on 24 May 2025
Application approved – 12:35pm on 23 May 2025
Documents received – 8:34am on 19 May 2025
Application received – 10:31am on 13 May 2025
Identity details received – 10:31am on 13 May 2025
Application submitted – 3:03pm on 12 May 2025
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Other The photo desk at Tesco
Submission Date:
19-05-2025
Date Received:
29-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
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