How long does a new UK passport take ?

garyfl · 21 Aug 2014 at 14:13

IM going away for a few days in Holland end of november, ideally id like to send it off and pay for the passport on sept 15th, ive never had one so will be my first. Gives me roughly 8-9 weeks. Will i most likely get it back in that time ? Ive sent an email off the them but they say about 3 days for a response, wondered if someone might help me on here, if its a case of no, ill send it off sooner.

Cheers.

iamtheoneneo · 21 Aug 2014 at 14:17

For a first passport your pushing it - they will naturally take longer and are much more picky on corrections. Plus I believe the delays are hitting new signups the most.

Make sure you do the Post Office check and send.

bledd · 21 Aug 2014 at 14:19

Do it asap

wingman44115 · 21 Aug 2014 at 14:34

garyfl said:
IM going away for a few days in Holland end of november, ideally id like to send it off and pay for the passport on sept 15th, ive never had one so will be my first. Gives me roughly 8-9 weeks. Will i most likely get it back in that time ? Ive sent an email off the them but they say about 3 days for a response, wondered if someone might help me on here, if its a case of no, ill send it off sooner.

Cheers.

at the moment, 8-9 weeks would be quick for a brand new passport.

Andy__C · 21 Aug 2014 at 14:42

I recently got my 4 month old son's passport, so it was obvs a first passport.

We did the forms online, and including having the original passport photo rejected and resending a new one, it all took less than 3 weeks.

Granted this is a passport for baby, so i don;t know whether it's quicker than a new adult. It was quicker than I was expecting.

That said, don;t get slack.... get your application in straight away.

garyfl · 21 Aug 2014 at 14:46

So question is, if i sent it off now, would i recieve it in time ? or should i just cancel the trip

Feek · 21 Aug 2014 at 14:51

garyfl said:
So question is, if i sent it off now, would i recieve it in time ? or should i just cancel the trip

Nobody can answer that with any accuracy. All anyone can advise is to get the application in as soon as you possibly can. Don't delay and make sure you use the Post Office check and send service.

Storm3y · 21 Aug 2014 at 14:51

If it's your first passport you might need to attend an interview and it takes at least 6 weeks probably longer at the moment.

Feek · 21 Aug 2014 at 14:52

Storm3y said:
If it's your first passport you might need to attend an interview and it takes at least 6 weeks probably longer at the moment.

That's a long interview! I hope they provide lunch and toilet facilities

Storm3y · 21 Aug 2014 at 14:53

Feek said:
That's a long interview! I hope they provide lunch and toilet facilities

Frozennova · 21 Aug 2014 at 14:54

Feek said:
That's a long interview! I hope they provide lunch and toilet facilities

You forgot breakfast dinner and somewhere to sleep

Not much help but my renewal last April took 10 days from posting to receiving my passport back

mattyfez · 21 Aug 2014 at 15:11

It was all over the news a few weeks back that the passport office is in meltdown with huge backlogs, so I would send it ASAP.

garyfl · 21 Aug 2014 at 15:58

I know but they then set on a bunch of staff and holiday season is coming to a close. Just been offered a new job in past hour, so money isnt an issue now, ill send it off in the next few days

It wasnt an issue anyway im just tight

Cosimo · 21 Aug 2014 at 17:09

Feek said:
That's a long interview! I hope they provide lunch and toilet facilities

The latter not provided north of the border.

areksnumbr1sxylady · 21 Aug 2014 at 18:00

I got my first British passport 2 weeks after I submitted application form...

I used the Post Office check or whatever its called...

Got the interview after about 10 days and then the passport arrived.