Passport advice

[Justcallmemamma]

Posting in chat for traffic. I know in the big scheme of everything this is very trivial however I need to get it sorted.
My passport expired last May and I didn't bother getting renewed due to the pandemic etc. We had a holiday booked for August 2020 which was cancelled in March and rebooked for July 2021.
So my plan was to get it sorted in the new year, but now we are in another lockdown with no definite end and I believe passport offices are closed.
Part of me is fairly confident that we probably won't be going anywhere this summer however if it is possible I need to get my passport renewed just incase.
I'm not sure what I'm asking. Is it easy to do online? Should I just send it off so it's in the pipeline so to speak.
Like I say it's nothing compared to what is going on and I feel very shallow asking.
Any advice welcome.

DH did his over the summer and it only took a week using the online system. I’d just send it in now online as there might be a backlog once holidays start going again. You get 10 years on it so at least you’ll have it in the future.

We did our daughters online, was back in a week. Took a photo with a plain white background and added email of person to counter sign it, very simple and easy and better than filling out paper forms.

Passport offices won't be closed. They may be a bit slower than normal. But the Home Office is still working and processing things. I had my citizenship application approved and processed during lockdown 1 and my citizenship ceremony during the November lockdown, so those essential government services are still up and running. I would send it off. I've been thinking about doing mine, but need a digital photo and there aren't any digital photo services near me, so I don't really want to try really far during lockdown as seems a bit unnecessary. If you have everything you need ready to go, I would just submit it.

Thank you for replies. How easy is it to do the photo if using online application? I did have a quick look but am slightly confused (I'm a bit of a dinosaur with this sort of thing!) Can I just use my phone or do I need to download a special app?

I would do it now. Itll be quick. By Easter they take longer in normal years and this year I imagine it will 10 times worse as people wait to see what's happening and normal delays due isolating and social distancing.

It’s really easy - just a normal phone picture is fine.

Yes you can use your phone to take a picture for the application. Use a light coloured wall with decent lighting but no shadows.

You fill in the application online and upload your photo (and pay for the new passport) and then they will tell you where to send your old passport

There are companies online that help you make sure the photo is compliant- for a fee eg. https://www.reloadinternet.com/online-passport-photo-service?gclid=Cj0KCQiA3NXBRDQARIsALA3fILBAYD7x870pGlOSC9OvPl2QIYg4QtD3irrVpZWsdNylvM5NlnILDgaAg00EALwwcB

When you upload your photo they check whether it meets the criteria so don’t pay another company.

No need to use another company, if your photo isn’t right the application will tell you
It’s really really easy and the good thing is all gift agencies can use the info, I recently lost my driving license and I went online and gave my passport number (amongst other info) and I git a new one within a week with no need for a new photo at all

You dont need another company unless you need physical copy of the picture. Just use your phone and the website will tell you if its OK.

Well after taking hundreds of photos and finally realising that my god I'm ugly and then getting the photo accepted on the gov site, it's done. Just need to pop to the post office to return the old one and then wait. If this works out I'll be chuffed as it was fairly straightforward. Fingers crossed it works.

I have renewed several using the online service. One year I had to do 3 and all 3 old passports had to be sent to 3 different passport offices. Was very strange