Has anyone tried to renew a passport recently?

[Longtalljosie]

My passport expires in October and I’m outside the UK. I feel very edgy about losing the ability to get home - my parents are in poor health generally. I’ve tried and failed to get in touch with HMRC to ask if there will be discretion over the 6 month rule, given people are being asked to put off renewing their passports. But I also feel edgy about sending my passport off to join a massive backlog.

Has anyone renewed their passport very recently? And if so how long did it take?

I sent my expired passport on a Monday and by the following Thursday my new one was on its way.

On the colour, I thought they were just using up the burgundy stocks then switching to dark blue. Could depend on the passport office which you get.

@Thecazelets mine didn’t show as received until 5 days after posting, which was 4 days after tracking showed it was delivered.

Oh, and it’s burgundy (Durham office)

I sent off dds passport on Tuesday, they responded yesterday saying they have dds old passport. I don’t think we’ll be waiting long for a new one tbh.

[quote Howmanysleepsnow]@Thecazelets mine didn’t show as received until 5 days after posting, which was 4 days after tracking showed it was delivered.[/quote]
Thanks - that's useful to know.

@Longdistance that bit went smoothly for me - I’ve been at “application being processed” since 1 June

I sent my DS’s off to be renewed just before the start of lockdown. It took about 9 weeks to come back in the end.

It was from Durham and is blue!

DS sent off for his first adult passport last month, it took about 2 weeks, DD applied this week, so I'll compare times!

I renewed mine beginning of May, I used the online system It warned me several times not to apply due to wait times and priority for those with compassionate reasons were being prioritised. I just clicked through as The country where my husband is from and his family still reside require me to have 6 months on my passport for my visa stamp on arrival and I’m always concerned about needing to go at short notice.

Despite several texts and emails warning me of delayed service my passport arrived in 8 days. It was the blue/black colour

Gosh it seems so random then...

It does seem a bit random - mine seems to have turned round very quickly, and I've already had a text to say my new one's on its way. I sent DH's off on the same day last week and the tracker still says they're still waiting for his old one to arrive..!

This is giving me hope! Applied yesterday, sent passports off today. Need them by 21st August...Will let you know!

@OddBoots

DD sent hers for renewal (but first adult, if you see what I mean) in mid March and is still waiting for it. The tracker shows they have received her old passport and says they will be in contact if they have any questions.

That’s been a while!

Following. I’m going to send mine off tomorrow.

Mine came today - so just under 2 weeks in total. It seems to be black rather than blue.

OMG - just discovered my daughter's is out of date and supposed to be travelling in 3 weeks. Did a lightening renewal application today and documents in the post this evening. Any update on current turn around times?

Just in case anybody didn’t know. If your renewing your adult passport you don’t have to fill in the paper application anymore. It’s much easier to go the post office with your old passport and they do it all for you automatically on their system & take a new picture. It’s all complete in around 10mins! Really fab service.

2 weeks since DD applied for first adult passport, and she only just got the text to say they received her old passport which we sent first class on the day she applied.
The major factor in passport times seems to be the snail mail!

Mine has taken 5 weeks and I am still yet to receive it!

Can I ask where people sent their passports to? I sent my to Glasgow and am hoping they are speedy at processing.

Ours went to Durham and were both returned in just under 2 weeks.

I’m still waiting. I heard on the news today that there is a backlog of 400,000 so beginning to think it’s going to be a long time until I receive it.

I sent mine to Glasgow yesterday @Shecanmoveinanydirection so if it comes back soon will let you know. Also don't need passport till autumn but it ran out two weeks ago, now glad I have sent it off if it really is a backlog of 400,000!

DD's took 3 weeks, both the (clipped) old and new passports came in the same post last Wednesday.