Anybody had a passport renewed recently?

[shinynewapple]

If so how long did it take?

In a bit of a panic as we are off on holiday in just over 2 weeks and just found my passport has run out.

My choices are - pay £75 and do online application which it expects to take 3 weeks, although a friend has just had one back in 5 days.

Pay £177 and be able to collect in person from a passport office which will take around 3 hours to travel to, all in all.

What would you do?

Don't risk it. Do it in person.

I renewed mine in July and the new one arrived 5 days later. Standard renewal, online.

(That is, I clicked send on day 1 and it came through my letterbox before 10am on day 5)

It's really quick (less than ten days for 2 passport renewals and 3 new passport applications) but in your position I would pay the £177 and not take the risk of getting it back too late. It's shit but it's the best option.

Did mine online and it took 5 days, but I wasn’t on a tight deadline so I’m not sure I would do it in your shoes

Have now bit the bullet, paid my £177 and arranged to collect. That's a day out I could do without!!