Gaaaah need emergency passport

[EwwwwwwDavid]

Just need a handhold

We go away 1st April and DD passport doesn't have enough pre-expiry validity on it. Totally slipped my mind to check - it needs 6 months and only has 4.

Trying to book a fast-track renewal but can't until I have her digital photo so it'll have to wait until after school, in the meantime my anxiety is going through the roof.

Has anyone done this recently and been ok?

Did a standard passport renewal last Saturday, had the passport 5 days later.

I do it standard and send guaranteed next day delivery today

Normal passport renewal for my DD was back in 8 days so with fast track should be fine. Make 100% sure your photo is ok though, take to a photo studio if possible, other DDs passport was delayed because they said the background on her photo was too dark even though the online check had passed it.
Also if you can go to a passport office rather than doing it online

I did my renewal last Monday & had a text today to say it's being delivered tomorrow!

I'm going to send it next day delivery as soon as the identity check is done, so hopefully first thing tomorrow!

I had to do this recently when I discovered I’d lost my and DD’s passports two weeks before we were due to go on holiday. I got into a complete state worrying about it but the fast track process was incredibly smooth - discovered passports were missing on a Friday, got an appointment at the passport office on Monday and new passports arrived the following Friday. Try not to panic (hard, I know!) but just make sure the form is filled in correctly and photo meets the standards and it should be fine.

I renewed my passport online a couple of weeks ago and it only took a week.

I renewed my DDs passport in February online and received the new one a week later.

Well, Hemel Hempstead have received the old passport, so fingers crossed the application is accepted quickly!!

@EwwwwwwDavid can you not just book the appointment and get the photos after school? Or collect early and take her to get the pictures if you need the photo code to book the appointment?

Just seen your updates. I'm sure the new passport will arrive quickly

Ours recently all took between 2-3 days once the old passport was received at their end so won’t be long till you get them at all

I already threw caution to the wind and did a standard application as couldn't get an appointment until Sat 🤣 regretting that choice massively now!

I renewed my sons last month and it was less than a week from applying to having it in my hand. I applied Thursday, they received the old one Friday and posted the new one Monday, which came Tuesday. I was very surprised and impressed!

Fingers crossed for you

For those who have had renewals back recently, which office was it you sent them to? Mine was Hemel Hempstead.

So please explain to me the logic of this: If a passport is "not valid" 6 months before expiration date then it is actually expired, is it not???

What kind of stupid administration makes up rules like that?

Yep!! Couldn't agree more, we have passports which we cant use basically. So it's only 4.5 years validity for a 5 year child passport. VERY frustrating and I really don't know why 3 months isn't enough for some countries.

I get that they are safeguarding against delays but 6 months delay?

Application approved! Slowly getting there

Printed and delivery scheduled for tomorrow! Thank you all SO much for advice and encouragement, and I saved £70 odd PLUS didn't have to go to Liverpool! Wins all round 🥳

@UpUpUpU was this for a child? Did it not have to go into a 5 day safeguarding hold? I applied on Sunday, had an appointment at Liverpool yesterday (Monday) and have been told it won't come out of safeguarding til Friday. As the appointment was 1640 (only one available) they said it probably won't print until Saturday (as it is 5x 24 hours safeguarding) and out for delivery via Royal Mail Monday. Biggest issue being we are due to fly Saturday afternoon. Any positive experiences might help me get through the week

@808bond the OP did a standard online application on 18/3/24, was approved 26/3/24 and received the new one on 27/3/24.

Thanks @dementedpixie
Looking at @UpUpUpU post of
"I renewed my sons last month and it was less than a week from applying to having it in my hand. I applied Thursday, they received the old one Friday and posted the new one Monday, which came Tuesday."
Suggests 6 day turnaround including weekend. I was just trying to get a 'warm feeling' that there might even a remote chance of getting mine in a similar leadtime.