UK Passport Renewal - Current Turnaround Times
Does anyone have any recent experience of submitting an online renewal of a UK Passport using the standard service? I'm just interested to hear any anecdotal evidence as to how long it is actually taking at present.
They indicate that the standard time is 3 weeks. Normally this time of year is fairly quiet for Passport renewals, so you would expect processing to be much quicker. However, with Brexit looming, is that having an impact on the renewal processing times? I don't need to use the express service assuming 3 weeks is realistic. |
most of the brexiteers are waiting until they can get a guaranteed blue passport before renewing so this time next year will be a busy period!
But at this time of year renewals are very quick and on another board some one reported a less than a week turnaround a couple of weeks ago. One thing that I think helps speed the process is completing the application form on-line as HMPO can then start the checks it does before actually getting the physical form back from you |
Originally Posted by UKtravelbear
(Post 30714221)
most of the brexiteers are waiting until they can get a guaranteed blue passport before renewing so this time next year will be a busy period!
My pressure is the fact that my wife's passport expires in December, but since it had extra months added it will effectively be useless for intra-Europe travel post the end of March in the event of a no deal Brexit (since Europe will only accept the first 10 years of validity from the date of issue and you will need 6 months validity on Passports). Let's hope too many people haven't realised this yet and hers gets in before the chaos! |
Oh thanks for the reminder about the possible forthcoming 6 month validity for Europe. I'd best consider my renewal despite my PP not expiring until 2021 as it has credit from the previous one on it.
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For the benefit of others, the current Government advice can be found here. In summary, this is:
Rules for passportsThe rules for travel to most countries in Europe change if the UK leaves the European Union (EU) with no deal.After 29 March 2019:
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One week currently. I renewed mine recently. Sent it off on 11 January, had the new one by 17 January. Similar speedy experience from someone else I know who renewed this month. |
Thanks @gms My current passport expires in March 21 it had 9 months added so the 10 years from issue would expire in August 2020
I've just checked and my current ESTA expires in June and I have a US trip planned for July so I'll need a new ESTA so I may just renew now as I travel to Europe quite regularly and don't want to get caught out with the possible 6 m rule. |
I renewed mine on line the other week with electronic photo image and no physical form required. Once they receive the application they don't start processing it until they receive your old passport in the mail.
Posted old passport Monday. They received it Wednesday with email acknowledgement timed at 11:44. Approved and sent for printing Thursday 10:40. Printed and sent for delivery Thursday 21:44. Delivered by courier Monday late afternoon with the old one already received Monday morning from the postie. The courier has a 2 working day target. |
I renewed my son's passport (online application that you print and send) in January; I posted it it on a Monday morning with next day 1pm guaranteed delivery and his passport was back on the Saturday, so pretty good!
I've recently put in reminders in my calendar for when our passports have 7 months left, as my son;s passport expiry took me by surprise, as I'd got out of the habit of checking them since becoming an ex-expat! |
Originally Posted by gms
(Post 30714298)
That's what I'm hoping for!
My pressure is the fact that my wife's passport expires in December, but since it had extra months added it will effectively be useless for intra-Europe travel post the end of March in the event of a no deal Brexit (since Europe will only accept the first 10 years of validity from the date of issue and you will need 6 months validity on Passports). Let's hope too many people haven't realised this yet and hers gets in before the chaos! With two passports I should be OK even if there is an extended processing period |
Just a quick update on my (wife's) renewal. In the comments above, it seems the current turnaround time is around a week. I've just had confirmation this morning that the passport has been printed and sent. So maybe just over a week in my case by the time the passport arrives, but still pretty speedy. Interestingly, the approval was date stamped as Friday at 8.54pm. Either the UK Passport Office is putting in some overtime in the expectation of a deluge of applications in the coming weeks or there is some degree of automation/delay in the final approval notification stage.
The full timeline for the process was: Passport printed and sent 7:46am on 4 February 2019 Application approved 8:54pm on 1 February 2019 Joined processing queue 10:39am on 31 January 2019 Documents received 9:06am on 30 January 2019 Application received 4:25pm on 27 January 2019 Application submitted 4:25pm on 27 January 2019 |
Hi,
The timings for my new passport were ( I live in central scotland) Sat 2 : Get my photos taken, apply online and upload photos to online application Mon 4 Post my old passport off ( just miss the post office cut off time) Thr 7 SMS from passport office that the passport is received Wed 13 am SMS-Photo and application approved Wed13 pm SMS- Passport dispatched Thr: Old passport received Fri pm : New passport received Overall very impressed with the speed of renewal and the new online process Regards TBS |
Quick Q if you apply on line what documentation do you need to send with your old passport? I may do a renewal in the last week March between returning from AMS and a certain day that may not be mentioned! I'll do photos etc on line just not sure what physical docs they want.
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Originally Posted by UKtravelbear
(Post 30782978)
Quick Q if you apply on line what documentation do you need to send with your old passport? I may do a renewal in the last week March between returning from AMS and a certain day that may not be mentioned! I'll do photos etc on line just not sure what physical docs they want.
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Hi,
I just also put in a piece of paper with the reference number on it ( although the reference number is also on the adress detailds provided to send it to ( so it is part of the address ) Regards TBS |
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