How long do online passport renewals take?

[Loveliveexplore]

I'm living abroad currently but need to fly over to renew my 2 dds passports. They are 5 and their passports expire in September. I don't live far just a couple hours flight and it's an exusce to see family, my girls have a 2 week school holiday the end of March. However I'm at a loss whether I should just do the standard online application when I arrive as I've heard they say up to 3 weeks but most come back within a week? Or shell out an extra £200 and go into London to do the fast track one week service? But if the online service is just as fast maybe a few days slower, I would rather save money as I'll be spending on flights and money while I'm there.
Anyone applied for one recently and have any experience on turn around with the online service?

Thanks

I’m really not understanding why you need to send them to your mom just for her to then send them to the passport office? And then have them sent back to her so she can then post them to you. I must be missing something.

I don't know how you should do it, but I've just renewed mine and it took a week.

8 days for ours

Mine took 7 days including the weekend days.

Under a week as long as it's a straight forward renewal

My 5 year olds took less than a week.

If I were you I would complete online, submit photos before you leave, then fly back and post the old ones- that way if any of the pics are unacceptable you'll know beforehand- although they're quite lenient with children I believe

The UK office won't send the documents back abroad unless your using the embassy process here, which as I detailed above is even more long winded.

@anothernewone thanks good idea

7 to 10 days

I renewed my children's passports from abroad a few days ago. It cost £56 plus a £20 courier fee. I had to fill in the online form and send their old passports to the passport office in the UK. I don't understand why you want to go to the UK to renew it.

I'm in morocco the application is different here you have to travel the embassy and get your Moroccan address etc translated by a professional plus many other swings and roundabouts.

Completed DS2's on 4th Jan this year. Sent old passport off on 6th. New one arrived on 15th

There is an option to get them to send recorded delivery back to your mums and they text to say they have been posted. Could you get your mum to send them off then get a flight once they have texted

Mine definitely texted to say, proceeding, then sent and a day they would arrive

Yes @Loveliveexplore that's what he does with no issues at all.

Just done 3, applied same day online for all 3. Quickest took 11 days from application to delivery, longest took 15 days so if it were me I would pay for the one week service.

Just a thought, any issues with visas needing transferring from old to new passports if you "fix" the system by having the kids in the country, and couriering to your Mum, rather than using their office?

Did online application Friday 11 October
Sent documents Tuesday 15 October
Approved Thursday 24 October
Received passport Monday 28 October
So it took 17 days, a lot more than some others on this thread (although it did take me 4 days to post my documents)

I did mine on Saturday. The online form says to allow 3 weeks. I know it's often quicker, but the passport office says 3 weeks.

Don’t forget you’ll need to get the photos countersigned as your DDs are under 11.

(Have just done DS’s renewal online - took about 12 days from doing online application to receiving new passport).

Thanks guys. I've discovered to fly back to the UK you can have 30 days left on passport. So I'm gonna leave it till July and fly out for 3 weeks and do the 2 weeks post office service. That way it's the school summer holidays so don't have to stress and can do it in more of a relaxed way. Think that's the best idea all round.

I live abroad and renew passports online. The documents are couriered directly to the passport office and delivered back to me abroad. This is a special service run by several courier companies. No need to be in the country and it is not illegal.

@Boredisboring I agree, for many renewal from abroad is like this, but the OP has been very explicit- from where she is, UK passport renewal requires a trip to a passport office, and translation services.

Submitted my daughters on 9 Jan. posted the old one on 11th. Received the new one on 26th.