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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:
28-04-2025
Date Received:
16-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Overall a very smooth experience getting first UK adult passport. Here’s the timeline of my submission:
28 April: Sent documents via tracked and signed post (including current foreign passport)
1 May: email received that my documents have been received by Passport Office
7 May: email request for Biometric Residence Permit (these were expired and not requested from me originally)
7 May: BRP sent to Passport office via tracked and signed post
10 May: email request to book a passport interview
10 May: called to book appointment and the only time available was 17 May so I emailed CSMTUpload@hmpo.gov.uk to request my original documents back so I could travel if any delays
11 May: called passport office and they found a new slot for passport interview on 12 May
12 May: passport interview, a few hours later received an email that application was approved.
13 May: email received that my passport had been printed. Original documents returned.
16 May: passport received.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
17-05-2025
Date Received:
31-05-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Other Timpsons
Submission Date:
19-04-2025
Date Received:
26-04-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied late Easter Saturday afternoon, online. Posted old passport on Tuesday. New passport following Saturday. Old passport back following Thursday, no £5 fee.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Other Max Spielmann shop
Submission Date:
08-05-2025
Date Received:
21-05-2025
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:
12-05-2025
Date Received:
30-05-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
My online application was received on May 12th, I posted my old passport first thing with signed next day delivery on the 13th. Royal Mail marked it as deliveries on the 14th May(Wednesday). It took until May 22nd for HMPO to mark it as recieved on the tracking.
From here, it was relatively speedy. The application was approved on May 28th, printed on the 29th and received on the 30th. So just under 3 weeks from submitting to recieving, with a bank holiday in between.
The slow bit was definitely the time between Royal Mail saying it was delivered, and HMPO saying it had been received. So I would recommend using signed royal mail tracking delivery to post, so you can be assured it’s definitely reached HMPO.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
12-05-2025
Date Received:
30-05-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
My online application was received on May 12th, I posted my old passport first thing with signed next day delivery on the 13th. Royal Mail marked it as deliveries on the 14th May(Wednesday). It took until May 22nd for HMPO to mark it as recieved on the tracking.
From here, it was relatively speedy. The application was approved on May 28th, printed on the 29th and received on the 30th. So just under 3 weeks from submitting to recieving, with a bank holiday in between.
The slow bit was definitely the time between Royal Mail saying it was delivered, and HMPO saying it had been received. So I would recommend using signed royal mail tracking delivery to post, so you can be assured it’s definitely reached HMPO.
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Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
16-05-2025
Date Received:
30-05-2025
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
25-04-2025
Date Received:
20-05-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
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