Amazing service - digital passport application

Yes, @Figmentofmyimagination i had a similar experience renewing my passport last year. And at a time when there were stories of it taking 8 -10 weeks to get a passport. Maybe renewals are just easier all round?

I've been to the main PO in town today and the whole process was done digitally, including having my photo taken! It's all been sent off now along with my old passport (which had expired 11 years ago, apparently it's still OK to do the renewal despite that) - so am incredibly relieved and hope I get it back and all will be well. It's my only means of ID so I really need it!

I was following this post as I was due to renew mine…got my photos done today, completed the online application and posted my old passport back so I’m looking forward to seeing how long it takes to receive 😊

Fantastic enjoy your holiday.

Brilliant news! Thank god it's only once every 10 years.

Passport arrived yesterday. Two months after we applied to renew, but only a week after they actually found the old one in a corner somewhere. Our holiday is saved.

It was all going so well.

And then TNT keep trying to deliver to the wrong address and the occupants are never in to tell them it's the wrong house.

Can't for the life of me get through to TNT to tell them the front door in the 'no one home ' notifications isn't mine.

The address on the application is correct.

We've never had issues with delivery's to our house before. But TNT just can't seem to get it right.

And the address we sent old passport to was Bootle.

Application was online.
Old passport was sent back recorded delivery for a few pounds.
Yes dd did get tracking alerts through the process.
This was moving from child to first adult passport.

Renewed my eldest daughter's passport no problem at all, had it within 2 weeks. Youngest daughter, first passport, they lost her birth certificate. Took almost 3 months for them to find it. Incredibly stressful.

DH just renewed his online - the new one came exactly a week later and we don't even live in the UK at the moment, so we were super impressed!

@Sunshineandrainbow you only need a signature for a child passport under 12, an adult first passport, a lost passport and if anyones appearance has changed drastically.

The person that is verifying the photo gets an email and verifies it online (for an online application)

@Sunshineandrainbow I bet you didn't use a second class stamp with no tracking 🙈. Which office did you send it to ?

Me too it was so painful.
This month application was completed online on the Tuesday and new passport arrived on the Saturday!!! Still in shock now! I nearly paid for fast track as holiday booked in Feb half term.

Has the signing of the photos completely gone now or just for first passports?

@amaryllis134 you can't take a selfie! It reverses your image. You'd have problems going through the egates if you do. (I think!)

If using a phone move away from the wall a bit so you don't get the shadows.

We found this service to be really quick and convenient too - I was positively surprised.

I tried loads of times to take a passport photo with my phone, I felt like launching it through the window by the end of it.

I'm rubbish at taking selfies because I'm not in the habit of doing so. I happened to be in a shopping centre where there was a Max Spielman, and was happy to pay a professional to do a much better job than DH or I could.

not sure why anyone would go to the hassle of going to a photo booth. You can take a selfie and they tell you if it's good enough or if you need to take another. So simple!

I have just renewed DC' s passport. It runs out in March but you now need 3 months to travel to Europe. We used the Post office service where you just turn up with the old passport and they do everything, including taking the photo. I think it cost about an extra £16 (DC just turned 16 so first adult passport). That was last Tuesday and it was delivered yesterday. Really happy with the service (and tbh always have been, including when I had to travel to Durham for a fast track for us both when stolen during a house break in).

Over 10 years it only works out at just over £9 a year- using this service. I appreciate how expensive it is for a family who all apply at the same time though!

Glad it's improved. But I would advise people not to take this kind of swift service at HMPO for granted...

We waited 11 weeks for DS's passport renewal last year only for HMPO to admit it was lost in the system. Had to get the train to Peterborough, my own expense, and hang around for 8 hours waiting for them to rush through one because we were due to fly within a few days. I was on crutches at the time and was stressed and uncomfortable the whole time. Wasn't even a vending machine at the passport office to get a drink....

I renewed first week of January, with a name change due to marriage. It's been printed already, no countersign needed.

Once it's back I need to apply for DDs first passport, hopefully before the fees go up next month. I don't know if DDs will be as straightforward as DH is a foreign national.