Passport delay, any advice?

[Chloe8823]

Hello,
In a right stress!
Sent son's passport off for renewal mid Aug as it was due to expire (his first passport he'd had as a baby). Sent everything off with it as required (cheque, photos, previous passport etc). Text message received in September saying it should be here by 3rd October. Still not here. We are flying in 2 weeks and panicking!!!
Called passport office, they said it's still undergoing standard checks. It should arrive but they cannot promise?!?
Jesus. Anyone had a similar predicament??! Trip we are going on is non-negotioable, we are going to a wedding!!
How annoying!!!

Have they written to your countersignatory? Maybe they are waiting on info back from them

They advise 6 weeks for a standard application (which would match the date they gave you by text probably) but do also say not to book flights before you have the passport. So unfortunately, I don't think there is anything you can do.

My countersignatory hasn't heard anything she said

Just annoying as I was so thorough in making sure everything was included, everything they asked for!
Thank you for replying

Passports can be a pain, they seem to turn up in days or take ages!

I think most people book the flight first tbh, you only need to look on here to see the number of people who realise shortly beforehand that someone's passport is out of date (especially children, because theirs run for a shorter amount of time).

First adult passports always seem to take a little longer. I hope it's back in time - given that they couldn't commit to a time and it's not ready yet, do you have a back up plan if it doesn't get through in time? Could DS stay with someone, or could someone travel with him by ferry etc if it's somewhere accessible without flights? Having a back-up plan always makes me feel a bit less stressed.

It's not a first adult passport, its a child renewal! I imagine he's about 5/6 years old if his last one was a baby picture. Renewals are only supposed to take about 3 weeks.

Do they know you're going in 2 weeks? I'd ring again tbh

I applied online to renew my child's passport over the weekend.

It said renewals generally take 3 weeks.

I hope it turns up soon OP 🤞

Thanks very much. Son is 6.
We're going to Belfast so I've read online that technically we don't need a passport but it's still advisable to take it. I told them we are flying soon and they said they'd note that on his application. Grr.
Many thanks for your help

Passport arrived!

Phew, you'll be relieved about that

Yay, great news - enjoy the trip!

Belfast is in the U.K.! You don't need a passport.

@MrsJoshNavidi the passport office said on the phone that some form of photographic ID is required and because my son is only 6, he doesn't have any other photographic identification apart from the passport.