Recent UK Passport Applicant Timelines

Passport was received 22nd September. It is my first adult passport but the process was a passport renewal as I previously had a child passport (I was 15 years old when issued) which I sent in to them. They did not ask for someone to verify my photo. Passport printed on 18 September 2026 Application approved on 17 September 2026 Documents received on 9 September 2026 Application received on 7 September 2026 Application submitted on 7 September 2026

Passport received 1:30pm on 22 September 2026 Passport printed 1:27pm on 18 September 2026 Application approved 9:41am on 18 September 2026 Documents received 2:56pm on 14 September 2026 Application received 12:27pm on 7 September 2026 Delays in acknowledgment of receipt of old passport (2 days as per HMPO statement) pushed processing over weekend. Passport printed on following Friday then delivery held by Royal Mail over second weekend. No information from Royal Mail that they had the package until actual day of delivery.

Very easy, no problems at all. Old passport and birth certificate received at the same time as the new passport.

timeline was longer due to waiting for documents. Submitted docs were mailed on August 19th and received on September 1st. Approved on September 8th and printed on September 9th. Documents were returned and received on the same day.

Timeline was longer due to waiting for documents. Submitted docs were mailed on August 19th and received on September 1st. Approved on September 8th and printed on September 9th.

My timeline was longer due to waiting for documents. Submitted docs were mailed on August 19th and received on September 1st. Approved on September 8th and printed on September 9th.

Damaged passport I used the same photo as the damaged one and it was declined for being too old - I didn’t know it had to be taken in the last month. Then used photo me booth photo - had just used it for idp and was approved instantly. Delivered 19th Passport printed 9:43am on 18 September 2026 Application approved 1:30pm on 17 September 2026 New photo received 1:30pm on 17 September 2026 Photo rejected 1:24pm on 17 September 2026 Documents received 6:04pm on 8 September 2026 Application received 6:59am on 7 September 2026 Application submitted 6:59am on 7 Septe

It’s very daunting when thinking that you have to reapply for passport but the process was very simple following the online steps given, it’s explained in very easy to understand steps. The set-back came after the notification it had been printed and being sent on the 10/09 no further updates so by the 16/09 I used the HM Passport Chat to ask updates to find it had already been couriered on the 12/09 arriving in Perth on the 13/09, DHL had not contacted or forwarded any updates at all. It was by using the HM Passport Chat to check status that I was able to find the DHL Tracking Number, up until this point I didn’t know that it was in Perth and one attempted delivery had already been made, next attempt of delivery would be following day, which I could see on the DHL Tracker.

Only problem is no idea of delivery time, DHL give you instructions to be in as signature needed with a delivery before end of day. No secure dropoff point within 60km of us so stuck at home waiting all day....

Took several attempts to get acceptable photo. On line system worked well. Old passport returned in separate envelope with extra charge for tracked service and arrived in same delivery which was Royal mail in the scheduled time window

Online Application - Aug 16 Documents posted - Aug 18 Documents received and acknowledged - Aug 24 Passport approved - Sep 1 Passport printed and sent - Sep 2 Passport received - Sep 9