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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think his passport will arrive in time?

114 replies

anonhop · 28/07/2026 13:10

DH left his passport on a train & despite checking every lost property & following up, no luck. Paid for urgent fast stream appointment but the first he could get was today. The rules say the passport will arrive by courier “one week after the appointment”. We fly Sunday…

Does he have any chance of it coming by Saturday? Has anybody used the passport 1 week service recently? London office if relevant…

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trueredstart · 28/07/2026 15:20

I used the regular service to renew my passport. I sent my old passport off via the overnight tracked Royal Mail last Thursday.

Friday - got an email saying it had been received
Saturday - passport application approved
Monday - new passport being printed
Today, Tuesday - posted to me, and should arrive tomorrow

I'm sure they have to do other things when your passport is lost, but it was incredibly quick! I hope your son has no issues 🤞

Whosthetabbynow · 28/07/2026 15:12

anonhop · 28/07/2026 15:04

@Whosthetabbynowhe had his appointment at the Docklands today. Just wondering whether it’ll come on Saturday ready for Sunday… x

Ah ok. Fingers crossed xx

Original poster
anonhop · 28/07/2026 15:07

The photo was fine, but it’s the same as his last passport (which was only issued 3 months ago!!) which apparently isn’t allowed

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Original poster
anonhop · 28/07/2026 15:06

@Sunseasand2brilliant, thank you so much x

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Original poster
anonhop · 28/07/2026 15:06

@Skippyasyermuni he had to take his passport to work that day for visa arrangements for a work trip & left his entire bag (laptop and all) on the train 😭

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Original poster
anonhop · 28/07/2026 15:05

@Cockerpoomom oh gosh don’t say that! We’ve also got very hit and miss post, often getting a clump of letters all at once. They say passport is delivered by courier so fingers crossed ?

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Original poster
anonhop · 28/07/2026 15:04

@Whosthetabbynowhe had his appointment at the Docklands today. Just wondering whether it’ll come on Saturday ready for Sunday… x

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Skippyasyermuni · 28/07/2026 14:59

anonhop · 28/07/2026 14:36

Thanks all- the appointment didn’t go well! His photo wasn’t accepted 🤷🏻‍♀️ so they told him to go home & they’ll email him a link to upload another. He has left but no email so far 😭

How was his photo not accepted? That’s incredibly annoying. The Photo Booth thing is usually good at making an accepted photo or telling you to retake.

It’s such a shame, but have you tried speaking with the hotel and airline, to see if you can move anything by a few days? If not. Then I’d take the financial hit of booking a few extra nights at the hotel and just book a later homecoming flight, so you still get your holiday.

I’d find it hard not to be slightly pissed off with him for leaving his passport on the train. Why did he even have it out with him when you’re travelling so soon so couldn’t really risk losing it!

Sunseasand2 · 28/07/2026 14:55

anonhop · 28/07/2026 14:53

@Sunseasand2 thank you so much- that’s given me a bit of hope. How long ago was your experience? X

It was summer 2024, actually almost exactly 2 years ago as it was July so sImilar timing in terms of “holiday season”

Cockerpoomom · 28/07/2026 14:54

Our Royal Mail office isn't delivering letters only parcels so we are getting a pile of post about once a week . The manager has told them to concentrate on parcels only.
Hopefully because it will be tracked it will come as a priority. Fingers crossed. I would go to the sorting office on Saturday just incase it's there if it's not come, plead with them if theyve got it there. Good luck.

Whosthetabbynow · 28/07/2026 14:54

Wouldn’t trust it. My son had to renew v quickly and made a face to face appointment. Think you have to go to Docklands but I could be wrong.

Original poster
anonhop · 28/07/2026 14:54

@honeylulu thank you so much for the advice! I’ll tell him to keep calling the helpline and begging!! Will defo ensure he has offered to collect x

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Original poster
anonhop · 28/07/2026 14:53

@Sunseasand2 thank you so much- that’s given me a bit of hope. How long ago was your experience? X

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honeylulu · 28/07/2026 14:52

Firstly please do go with your daughter. If his passport comes soon after he can buy an extra flight and join you a bit later, then at least you won't lose the whole holiday.

Secondly, phone the passport helpline twice a day to check on progress. If you can get hold of someone at your MP's office they have a special secret number (not available to the public) they can call to chase too. Another tip is once you know it's been printed, offer to go straight to the passport office to collect (if possible) so you aren't waiting for it to be sent out. It may or may not get to him in time but worth trying everything. If you have an imminent trip booked the helpline people will try and make it happen (though some are more helpful than others!)

4 years ago my daughters passport renewal got stuck in a backlog even though I thought I'd applied in plenty of time. Lots of calls, MP calling and me offering to collect passport meant we finally got it two days before our holiday flight. Never again!

Sunseasand2 · 28/07/2026 14:51

Slightly different but I have an “additional passport” and it was only available on the 1 week process due to additional security checks etc and I did it (although a couple years ago!) at the London office, by the time I got back home an hour or so later I already had an email that it had been approved and sent to print and I think it was at my door two days later so there’s always a possibility I suppose!

DollopOfFun · 28/07/2026 14:41

dementedpixie · 28/07/2026 14:40

A first adult passport would be if he was getting his very first passport ever as an adult without having had a previous passport. If he had a passport (even if its a child passport) already it would be classed as a renewal. He could have done it using a fast track method

Show quote history

Yes but he'd lost his child's passport, he had to have it cancelled. And because he's now 18, it had to be his first adult passport.

dementedpixie · 28/07/2026 14:40

DollopOfFun · 28/07/2026 14:34

It's tight, but if it's any help, IME passport turnarounds aren't taking very long at the moment.

My idiot teenager lost his passport recently using it as ID.

We had to declare it lost, apply for a standard passport (no fast track options as it would be his first adult passport), make and complete an online appt to confirm his identity, and we still had the new one through our door in 8 days. This was about a fortnight ago

Good luck!

A first adult passport would be if he was getting his very first passport ever as an adult without having had a previous passport. If he had a passport (even if its a child passport) already it would be classed as a renewal. He could have done it using a fast track method

pinkandwhiteroses · 28/07/2026 14:36

anonhop · 28/07/2026 14:25

Thank you so much all! Unfortunately I’m not sure about going alone as we have a toddler & while she is very good, I am nervous to travel alone with her.

this was our first trip just as our family of 3 together!

Please take her alone - you will be absolutely fine.

Original poster
anonhop · 28/07/2026 14:36

Thanks all- the appointment didn’t go well! His photo wasn’t accepted 🤷🏻‍♀️ so they told him to go home & they’ll email him a link to upload another. He has left but no email so far 😭

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DollopOfFun · 28/07/2026 14:34

It's tight, but if it's any help, IME passport turnarounds aren't taking very long at the moment.

My idiot teenager lost his passport recently using it as ID.

We had to declare it lost, apply for a standard passport (no fast track options as it would be his first adult passport), make and complete an online appt to confirm his identity, and we still had the new one through our door in 8 days. This was about a fortnight ago

Good luck!

purplecorkheart · 28/07/2026 14:33

I would not bank on it and would still go with out him. Can you see how soon before flying that you can change the name on flight and bring a friend.

hahabahbag · 28/07/2026 14:28

Please do go alone especially if he could follow on the next day, it’s fine traveling with little ones, i travelled a lot with my 2, don’t miss out

hahabahbag · 28/07/2026 14:27

My dh’s only took 4 days standard service so it definitely is possible. If the appointment was today, process tomorrow print Thursday receive from Friday but depends on any backlog

Original poster
anonhop · 28/07/2026 14:25

marcopront · 28/07/2026 14:11

My daughter had an appointment in Liverpool last Wednesday
Her new passport arrived on Friday.
However lost passports do seem to take longer.

There are a lot of Facebook groups where people post their timelines.

Thanks so much for this! I shall check out Facebook

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Original poster
anonhop · 28/07/2026 14:25

Thank you so much all! Unfortunately I’m not sure about going alone as we have a toddler & while she is very good, I am nervous to travel alone with her.

this was our first trip just as our family of 3 together!

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