Passport photos

[MaryPlain59]

When you send your passport renewal application form and they ask for two photos do you send the two photos as a strip of two or do you need to cut them into individual photos, and if so do you need to leave any border? I would be really grateful for any advice.

I cut mine into individual photos and leave about 3mm border. Hth

Great, thank you x

Yep. I cut them with a slight white border.
You only write on the back of one of them.

Thank you, do you still need to write on the back of the photos if it is just a renewal? I couldn't see anything about it in the information booklet, sorry for all the questions.

You only need it countersigned if you can't tell that it's the same person in the expiring passport and new photos

Fantastic, thanks so much ☺

I've just renewed mine and it didn't need counter signing. That's only if your appearance has changed dramatically in past 10 years.

Also, there was no option to send a paper photo. It was all online 😮 when I did it.
There were 2 photo options:

1. get someone to take a phone photo of you (selfies not allowed) and follow all the correct guidelines. Upload said photo to passport website.
2. get a passport photo from somewhere like Timpson, who will email / save image to your stick or a disc. Then upload image as 1.

6 months ago I did the children's passport renewal and had to submit the application online, but sent the photos (which had to be counter-signed) via the post with a hard copy of the online forms.

Thank you Bleu that's really useful x

A phone photo? That's quite modern. All those snappy snap outlets charging £9/pop will go out of business.

Also, there was no option to send a paper photo. It was all online

There is if you do the paper form. DH has just done his. It was back with on a week.

I did dd's renewal online but still had to send photos. I wonder if it depends on whether or not it needs counter signing? I assume childrens always do as they change so much in five years.

Just done mine and DD's. Did check and send at P.O last Wed and they were sent by signed for courier today - v impressed.
Glad I did check and send as had to get DD counter signed as I thought she hadn't changed much so hadn't bothered then when I returned I had to go back and get mine counter signed as I had a small side fringe in my new photo compared with pony tail in old photo - looked same in every other way so annoyed I had to get it counter signed but it got sorted in end.

Could I ask how long it took for the passports to come back please?
I've sent off four for my children & have left it a bit late (only four weeks till we go away)

About a week

DH came back on less than a week

Might depend of it is a first application though.