Renew passport - photo question

stoofa

stoofa

stoofa

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My passport runs out in a couple of months, so time to get it renewed. Not in a hurry, but like to have a valid passport in case I need it.
I see that the post office run a "check and send" option - I've never been a fan of paying someone to check documents when I can just double-check myself, however I read that the fee for this service also includes them taking the pictures for you?
I renewed my driving license six months ago and the picture was taken there and then - so I'm assuming the same device also takes the pictures for passports?

My current picture is now 10 years old. Obviously my appearance has changed but not by so much that you couldn't see the old picture and me now are the same person.

Am I right in thinking that in this case I could go to the post office and get everything done there and then as there would be no requirement to get one of the pictures and my documentation signed?
You only need signed pictures if it's a first passport or your appearance has changed so much you cannot be recognised from the old picture?

Don't want to turn up at the post office just to be sent away to get the pictures sorted. Happy to pay their fee if it means I can rock up, they take my picture and that's it - sit back and wait for the replacement.

Cheers.
 
I wasn't aware the post office would actually take your picture as part of the check and send option. When I renewed mine a few years ago, I used check and send and provided my own photographs.

Regarding checking the documents, I'm not stupid but I just preferred to have a second pair of experienced eyes looking over the forms to make sure everything was correct. As far as I'm concerned, it was a worthwhile option to use.

/edit - No mention here about them taking your photo. In fact it says you should take your photos in with you.
 
I'd guess it is probably an additional service that individual post offices would offer - don't think any of the ones around here will take a picture.
 
I renewned mine in 2014 paid 8 quid or something for post office check, i had my own photos though it gets sent special delivery that costs a few quid on it's own so i thought it was worth it.
 
Did mine last week, just go online and fill all the paperwork in there and print off the declaration page. Then just send off the signed page with new pics and your old passport. New one turned up in 3 days :eek:

Changing your pic is easy, if it's just down to aging you don't have to get them signed.

Renewable cost me £72.

Got my photos taken in one of those photo machines in Tesco.
 
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Hummm, could have sworn I read a version of that which said they could take the pictures for you - same way they do for the driving license.
Appears not. Right, get pictures done first then :)
 
I renewed my passport about a month ago.

There's barely any form to fill in. There's also a helpline number. I wouldn't bother having it checked, just take your time.

Not sure why you think check and send includes photographs. That would mean every post office would have to have a facility for it.
 
I was in queue at post office the other day and person in front of me was having their passport done and they took the photos for him (they had a booth but they operated it)
 
I sent mine off with the post office, they said they thought the picture I supplied would get rejected and I should redo them using their photobooth. I told them to send it off anyway and it was fine.
 
Based on googling the main one in the town centre (haven't been in there in ages) where I live has a photo booth but the ones in my immediate vicinity don't.
 
Renewed mine a couple of months ago. I wouldn't bother with their checking service. If you think your appearance hasn't changed much don't even need to change the photo, mine was 10 years old too an didn't have a problem. The form is very straight forward too.
 
Mr-White said:
Did mine last week, just go online and fill all the paperwork in there and print off the declaration page. Then just send off the signed page with new pics and your old passport. New one turned up in 3 days :eek:

Changing your pic is easy, if it's just down to aging you don't have to get them signed.

Renewable cost me £72.

Got my photos taken in one of those photo machines in Tesco.
Click to expand...

This is what I did. Very easy process.

And yep, 3 days later I had my new passport.
 
Renewal requests that have been sent to the passport office via check and send go to the front of the queue, so the turnaround is usually much quicker.
 
Check and send sucks.
I got mine refunded because they told me at the post office my photo wouldn't be accepted and they would only send off my application after I argued with them for ten minutes...
The photo was taken at a camera shop so obviously a place where they take passport photos all the time, I don't know with the ditzy woman thought it wouldn't be accepted..

When my passport came through the door I complained to the post office website and got the check and send cost refunded.

The fee includes special delivery though if I remember right which I don't believe was much cheaper than the check and send service anyway, just don't expect them to be 100% accurate with what they tell you because they aren't infallible
 
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When can you get a passport renewed? Does it have to be within a certain length of time? I ask as my daughters passport is due for renewal next Oct 2017.
 
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arknor said:
Check and send sucks.
I got mine refunded because they told me at the post office my photo wouldn't be accepted and they would only send off my application after I argued with them for ten minutes...
The photo was taken at a camera shop so obviously a place where they take passport photos all the time, I don't know with the ditzy woman thought it wouldn't be accepted..

When my passport came through the door I complained to the post office website and got the check and send cost refunded.

The fee includes special delivery though if I remember right which I don't believe was much cheaper than the check and send service anyway, just don't expect them to be 100% accurate with what they tell you because they aren't infallible
Click to expand...

I think/hope you were just unlucky in terms of your experiences with check and send. I'm sure you're right that the advice isn't always correct but they will be trying to help and most of the time the service works very well.

Mr-White said:
Can it get any quicker than 3 days ?
Click to expand...

Difficult to see how it could get much quicker, the only way you could guarantee getting a passport sooner would be to use the same day service if you desperately need a new passport but that does cost more.

koolpc said:
When can you get a passport renewed? Does it have to be within a certain length of time? I ask as my daughters passport id due for renewal next Oct 2017.
Click to expand...

You can get it renewed at any point but you will only be credited with up to 9 months of the unexpired passport - see the passport website.
 
koolpc said:
When can you get a passport renewed? Does it have to be within a certain length of time? I ask as my daughters passport id due for renewal next Oct 2017.
Click to expand...

You can renew it at any time but they will only add a maximum of 9 months extra onto the new passport so youll get 10 years and 9 months if you where to renew it now. Makes sense to wait until closer to expiry
 
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