Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Child passport renewal times

227 replies

Stickystickystick · 29/09/2021 12:42

I think we've made a huge error. My son had just shy of 6 months left on his passport and we were due to travel to Spain on 22nd October. Having read the government advice it was stated he needed 6 months left on his passport. I sent off the application and old passport last week and have now read horror stories of passports taking at least 5 to 6 weeks. Has anyone renewed recently. I will be gutted if we can't travel. Apparently you can't switch to fast track services now either.

OP posts:
Original poster
Stickystickystick · 30/09/2021 10:46

Oh that's good. My renewal in June only took 10 days so I didn't think it would be this long. It's annoying that when you go on to apply it says if you are travelling within 3 weeks then to do fast track. Doesn't say anything about the massive delays

OP posts:
Itsanewdah · 30/09/2021 11:02

@Stickystickystick so i would assume 5-6 weeks for the passport to arrive. When we applied estimated time was 5 weeks so that seems to be correct.

GlitterBiscuits · 30/09/2021 11:12

I sent DCs on 10/9.
No news about it yet

CRbear · 30/09/2021 14:11

I sent my documents on Saturday (signed for) so I know they arrived on Monday and they only registered as “arrived” this morning- 4 days to acknowledge receipt! And to pretend like they only just arrived…appalling.

Original poster
Stickystickystick · 30/09/2021 14:50

I know I sent mine on Friday and still no receipt of being received. Which office are you dealing with?

OP posts:
Gonewiththegin · 30/09/2021 14:59

@Stickystickystick I sent my DC renewal to Durham at the beginning of September. It took 21 days from documents received to the new one being delivered. Fingers crossed it’s as quick for you.

Galaxyheart · 30/09/2021 15:19

Sent DD's back on 9/9 Post office check and send heard nothing back due to travel 19/10 trying not to panic

Original poster
Stickystickystick · 30/09/2021 16:32

@Gonewiththegin they haven't even said they've received my documents yet. Sent on Friday. Shambles

OP posts:
CRbear · 01/10/2021 06:51

Mine went to bootle, my boyfriends had to go to Scotland I think

Original poster
Stickystickystick · 01/10/2021 10:37

Mine is at Durham. Still not recieved apparently after nearly a week

OP posts:
FloconDeNeige · 01/10/2021 10:45

It took 10 days for them to receive the old passport, but I’m in Switzerland.

On 15th September I got a ‘your application is being processed’ message and am still waiting.

Hoping to travel back to the UK on 23rd October. We haven’t seen my family for 2 years because of Covid-19. DS2 was a baby last time they saw him. I’m going to be so gutted if it doesn’t get processed in time (and I might actually go alone if that happens).

ejhhhhh · 01/10/2021 16:12

I really wish I'd researched this a bit before my DS's expired. We're on 3 weeks and counting. I know lots have been waiting longer, but I was only expecting it to take a week or two based on previous experience. Looks like we won't be booking that half term trip!

stepbackfromthecircles · 01/10/2021 16:20

Applied 30/8 and got it back on Tuesday.

Junip · 01/10/2021 16:51

@stepbackfromthecircles thank you, that’s promising. 4 weeks seems to be quite a common turnaround which gives me some hope!

@ejhhhhh - We’re on a similar timeline. Which office is yours with? I feel the same about the research but I think it’s misleading when you apply - it said to do fast track if you’re travelling within 3 weeks when I applied. Like you I assumed normal service would be fine. From the look of their recent tweets people are even struggling to get their fast tracks back now.

stepbackfromthecircles · 01/10/2021 17:41

One tip I will say is that if you want to speak to them then call early as I was on hold and then call back. They called me back three days later!

Wtf86 · 01/10/2021 17:49

Less than 2 weeks here - my friend did her ID thing on 20th May online and we had the new one by 2nd June!

Junip · 01/10/2021 17:52

@stepbackfromthecircles did you find speaking to them helpful? Did they give you any idea of where it was in the process/when it might arrive?

ejhhhhh · 01/10/2021 17:54

@Junip I applied online, but had to send the old passport to Liverpool. I'm not very confident I'll get it back anytime soon!

stepbackfromthecircles · 01/10/2021 17:55

They actually messaged in between so I didn't need to speak to them in the end.

JPduck · 01/10/2021 18:01

Mine was an online renewal took 1 month exactly, got it back 2 days ago.
I read online renewals are turning round quicker than paper renewals

ShuddaBeenMe · 01/10/2021 18:02

Mine was online renewal and took I sent it on August 1st and got it back on the 6th September

NettlesInTheNightGarden · 01/10/2021 18:22

I sent my documents last Saturday, they acknowledged they’ve received them today. Not flying until November, but I’m panicking about booking seats on flights? I’m worried we end up sitting separately because the seats will be booked late!

Original poster
Stickystickystick · 01/10/2021 19:30

Update..old passport received at office. One week after I sent it. Letter sent to cancel application and hopefully get old passport back in time

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 01/10/2021 19:31

They might send it back with a corner cut off and then it won't be able to be used

Original poster
Stickystickystick · 01/10/2021 19:51

I think lots of people requesting passports back so they can fast track. My child's will still be valid so hope they don't do that if they receive my cancellation notification

OP posts: