Recent UK Passport Applicant Timelines

The documents were sent out late, which is why they were received late. However, from the time the documents were received to the new passport being delivered, it took only 5 days. This was a very efficient service. I received the old passport 9 days after the receiving the new one. Old passport received: 12 October 2026 New passport received on 3 October 2026 Passport printed 10:34am on 2 October 2026 Application approved 8:26am on 2 October 2026 Documents received 7:25am on 28 September 2026 Application received 11:21am on 12 September 2026 Application submitted 11:20am on 12 September 2026

Had to hurry them along as needed it urgently.

This was an application made by my Canadian/British partner. It wasn't a first application, although it was treated as such because her last UK passport expired in 1989. Like many others this year, my partner, who lives in the UK, was forced to apply for a new UK passport, as she was due to visit relatives in Canada and would not have been allowed to re-enter the UK and return home without a valid UK passport, due to the recent change in rules for dual citizens. We believe the delay in processing her application was possibly partly due to her being adopted by her mother's second husband, resulting in a change of surname, although this happened in the 1960's and all later UK and Canadian passports had the adopted surname on them. The delay has put incredible stress on my partner, who has been desperate to visit both her 90 year old father and her daughter, who reside in Canada. She has also been left severely out of pocket, as she rescheduled her original flight after learning of the change in the rules (she was due to fly to Canada in March), and consequently lost the equivalent of two return flights in value. I had also booked a flight for the both of us to Cork in May, which she also had to miss due to the airline insisting on her having a UK or Irish passport, even though the law does not require one to travel between England and Ireland if you are a citizen of either country.

A child born in India on April 2026 applied for a first British passport through HM Passport Office. Following submission of the application, HMPO carried out initial checks and requested several supporting documents to verify the child’s identity, nationality, parentage, and eligibility for British citizenship. The documents reviewed included the child’s full birth certificate, passport photographs, the father’s British passport, naturalisation certificate, cancelled Indian passport, the mother’s identity documents, proof of address such as bank statements, council tax and mortgage statements, family photographs, Aadhaar-based supporting evidence, and explanations relating to the child’s circumstances and lack of Indian identity documentation. After all supporting documents were received and linked to the application, the case progressed to examiner review. HMPO subsequently arranged an identity verification interview via Microsoft Teams, which took place on 5 October 2026. Following successful completion of the interview and final assessment, the application was approved the same day. The passport then moved to the printing stage, was dispatched on 5 October 2026, and forwarded to the courier for delivery. The application journey consisted of document submission, document review, examiner assessment, identity verification, approval, printing, dispatch, and final delivery of the child’s first British passport.

Excellent speedy on line service - even got old passport back at the same time in separate package .

Application submitted - 11:58am on 5th October Application received - 11:59am on 5th October Documents received - 09:28pm on 8th October (Posted on 5th October after 5pm) Application approved - 07:21am on 9th October 2026 Passport printed - 08:52pm on 9th October 2026 Passport delivered by Royal Mail - 13th October

Passport replaced due to damage (Only 9months old), but treated as a renewal when processed. Very quick turnaround. One they received my old passport, it was actually 8 days. Application history Passport printed 3:13pm on 7 October 2026 Application approved 12:09pm on 6 October 2026 Documents received 12:43pm on 30 September 2026 Application received 1:23pm on 27 September 2026 Application submitted 1:23pm on 27 September 2026 As before, this site was great as a rough guide to turnaround times, thanks!

Multiple issues with photos

The process was very straightforward for me. Before I got my passport, I saw others who shared their experiences detailing how the HMPO would schedule an interview or ask for extra documents which costs extra money and ultimately delays the application a bit more especially if you're a first time applicant from Overseas. Others had their application stuck on security verification for a long time without proper examination as to why. So annoying, really. I secretly hoped I won't have to go through these experiences and I'm glad I didn't. My application took just a month. I submitted ORIGINALS of all the documents they requested including my international passport. I didn't bother to send photocopies of any document. I believed this helped me avoid those unnecessary delays. Sending my originals (even though they asked for photocopies) must have shown them I meant business and had nothing to hide. LOL.

25 September Application received 29 September Documents received 5 October Application approved 6 October Passport printed 8 October Passport arrived via Royal Mail

Submitted 28th Sep Documents received 30th Sep Approved 7th Oct Printed 8th Oct Received 9th Oct

Passport printed 3:05pm on 8 October 2026 Application approved 10:56am on 7 October 2026 New photo received 10:56am on 7 October 2026 Photo rejected 10:47am on 7 October 2026 Documents received 6:37pm on 30 September 2026 Application received 8:34pm on 27 September 2026 Application submitted 8:34pm on 27 September 2026 Application was due to a new name after marriage. Was called on 7 October by HMPO to inform me an observation would be added due to dual citizenship. Initial photo was rejected due to being the same as last passport.

Passport received 8 October 2026 Passport dispatched 7 October 2026 Passport printed 1:35pm on 6 October 2026 Application approved 9:22am on 6 October 2026 Documents received 8:10pm on 29 September 2026 Application received 2:11pm on 26 September 2026 Application submitted 2:11pm on 26 September 2026

Passport recieved: 8 October 2026 Passport printed 3:59pm on 6 October 2026 Application approved 2:52pm on 5 October 2026 Documents received 6:57pm on 29 September 2026 Application received 2:13pm on 25 September 2026 Identity details received 2:13pm on 25 September 2026 Email sent to person confirming your identity 1:45pm on 25 September 2026 Ask someone to confirm your identity 1:27pm on 25 September 2026 Application submitted 1:27pm on 25 September 2026

I posted the passport and birth cert on Saturday19th. The documents were received by the Passport Office on Monday 21st.