Amazing service - digital passport application

[Figmentofmyimagination]

I’m so impressed by this new service to renew my passport. Completed in a week, start to finish. I had to go and have a digital photo taken in a shop and they gave me a code to input into my online application, so no need anymore for tiny photos of me countersigned by a neighbour with a worthy job eg solicitor etc who has known me for years and says it’s really me. Instead I just filled in the online application, inserted the code and paid online, posted off my old passport, and got the new one through my front door in under a week, with text updates at every stage. Very impressed.

Just to warn you if you make the tiniest of typos you are in for a world of pain. check check and check again.

Still waiting five days later to get the form to report the old passport lost by post so we can hopefully then expedite the process. We are now almost eight weeks in and it’s been nothing but errors from the Passport Agency, and no sign of a passport at all.

Good news.

Just got a text saying they've received my documents. So, almost 2 weeks between the letter being signed for and it being marked as received in their system.

I've just done 5 about 2 weeks ago. 3 are here already, mine which involved a name change from marriage, my husbands which needed a countersign online as I couldn't find his old one and my youngest first passport.

The eldest is stuck in the system as they want docs of any court orders but there are none so it wants to tick docs off that don't exist. Hoping my phone call last week sorted it but they are still chasing docs that don't exist. My middle chold I somehow soelt their name wrong but sent a letter and the right name on birth cert. That has been printed but I'm not sure if they changed the name right as they emailed me with the wring spelling still saying printing.

All photos on my phone and it tells you if good or poor etc so you can take another one. All countersigned online, it is easy but do try to find old passports and put the details in right and it should be under a week!

Yet 8 months later, Home Office still didn't update my settled status after my last name has changed and I got new passport. I know, nothing to do with your application, it's different department, but fucking ridiculous. Just complaining to let my frustration out 😡

Well, blimey! Exactly one week after posting my old passport off second class, I arrived home from work to find my new passport waiting for me.

The passport office could teach other organisations a thing or two about efficiency. This was from the Durham office BTW.

I've just renewed my sons and it's arrived less than 2 weeks later. You do have to get the photos approved by 3rd party for children's passports but it's all done by email.

Just a heads up. I took my dd's photo and the passport service said it was fine in the application. I then submitted the application and the photo was rejected. Had to go to tescos and get one taken there.

Recently applied for an infant’s first passport. I got a text on the 2nd Jan that my baby’s birth certificate had been received (after sending it on Christmas Eve) and her passport was in my hands on the 4th. I was amazed at how quick it was!

I got my DC's first adult passport last week - it literally took eight days from online application (took the picture on my phone) till it came through the door.

Same here. Don't rely on the photo checking answer being OK.

so no need anymore for tiny photos of me countersigned by a neighbour with a worthy job eg solicitor etc who has known me for years and says it’s really me.

You never needed a countersignatory for an adult passport renewal (unless you'd lost the old passport or changed your name)

I was told that the online form tells you if the photo you upload is no good so it's worth a try....friends do it against a white wall and take a selfie.

Three long phone calls to them today and they are too busy trying to ‘prove’ that it was the Royal Mail lost the old passport to understand the issues we are having reporting it lost. I keep being ‘told’ what the problem is when it’s something totally different. We’re going to our MP as we can see no other way ahead.

Just received DD's first adult passport today (had a child passport already so effectively a renewal). Applied 9 days ago which was a Sunday so couldn't post until the following day. Of course with the price going up there will be a rush now but glad we are sorted.

I don't think this is a particularly new service is it? I'm pretty sure this is how I renewed a few years ago

My experience has also been very good too.

Mine went to Hemel Hempstead.

My husband and I applied for new passports online last Friday. His arrived this morning, mine has apparently been printed but has not yet been transferred for delivery. Impressive, but I'm slightly miffed because I applied before him and was the one who queued up in the post office to send our old passports back!

This is very encouraging as just renewed a passport this way online today, although took own photo and uploaded it. Just need to post the old one later when I go out.

Was thinking of booking something for the may/june school holidays but I heard passports were taking 10 weeks, so thought i'd better not book just in case it isn't back. But I might rethink this now. Perfect timing for this post, thanks OP

I did this today. And when uploaded the photo, it does a little digital check of it and tells you if its likely to be accepted. The first one I tried said it was too bright, so took another and it said this one was 'good'. So fingers crossed.

I am assuming if they receive it and it is infact no good, they just let you upload another. Hopefully anyway.

I'm super impressed too.

Child passport renewal end Dec. Turn around was fast (couple of weeks). Photos taken, code used. Zero stress!

I take it all back! Mine's just arrived too (although, unlike my husband, I had no note of despatch). Excellent service - two done and dusted in less than a week.

I think we have just too used to rubbish service from other otganisations now, and the efficiency of the passport office is showing them up big time.

Well, after we complained, they’ve found our old passport almost two months after we sent it, and printed the new one. So our holiday is saved (assuming it arrives). But I’m afraid I can’t actually say it’s been efficient. It’s been very stressful.