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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.

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Polly99 · 05/10/2021 16:23

I've called them, but not sure it makes much difference. Due to fly the week after next, so could be a bit tight and may need to cancel.

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BasementIdeas · 05/10/2021 23:27

We applied 4th Sept for child renewal. Docs received 10th Sept, approved 1st Oct and got the passport yesterday. So exactly 1 month

UK passport waiting twitter site is quite useful for keeping up to date with everyone’s timings

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Junip · 06/10/2021 10:21

Still waiting for our child renewal to come back, we fly on the 16th. From what I’ve gathered online elsewhere they’re working on issuing passports this week for old passports received 3 weeks ago so I’m not giving up hope yet! But it is very stressful Confused

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BasementIdeas · 06/10/2021 10:38

@Junip

Still waiting for our child renewal to come back, we fly on the 16th. From what I’ve gathered online elsewhere they’re working on issuing passports this week for old passports received 3 weeks ago so I’m not giving up hope yet! But it is very stressful Confused

When was your old passport received?
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FloconDeNeige · 06/10/2021 10:50

For me, the documents were received on 15th September (applied on 5th) and today it still says ‘your application is being processed’.

I’m actually really annoyed with DH as if he’d bothered to apply for DS’s French passport then he could travel on that.

The irony is that the French family have been able to see the kids during the pandemic (although less frequently than usual) as we can drive between Switzerland & France. To go to the UK we need to fly so my parents haven’t seen them in 2 years.

If the passport doesn’t arrive in time I’ll go back on my own, but it will be a real shame.

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Junip · 06/10/2021 10:53

@BasementIdeas 16th Sept

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Junip · 06/10/2021 18:27

We’ve had some great news, application approved! I got the text 2 hours after speaking to an advisor (who was lovely but said there wasn’t anything they could do other than make a note of date of travel). Maybe a coincidence but worth trying to get through/waiting for a call back I think. Fingers crossed for everyone else waiting

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Stickystickystick · 07/10/2021 12:56

That fab Junip. What date were your documents recieved?

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Junip · 07/10/2021 13:14

They were received on the 16th Sept. How are you getting on with your passport being returned?

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Stickystickystick · 07/10/2021 13:34

Not good! Heard nothing despite letter sent last week

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FloconDeNeige · 07/10/2021 13:55

Good news for you @Junip!

Nothing happening here. I tried to call yesterday but the waiting time was 45 minutes and I didn’t have that long so I decided if there’s nothing by Friday then I’ll call again.

My docs were received on 15th Sept, so a day before yours, Junip. I wonder if it’s taking longer because I’m not in the UK?

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NanaRant · 07/10/2021 14:09

Watching this thread with interest. I am in the same boat. Naively thought my passport renewal would take 2 weeks - to realise it is a lot longer! (too late to ask for my old one back to fast-track, as some people saying online that getting old one back is taking weeks). Seriously close to my holiday (16th October) and going to have to cancel I think. Spoke to an individual from the passport office yesterday, and while nice enough, she did not sound confident that it would be here in time :-( quoting up to 10 weeks.
Applied online 19th, sent passport recorded delivery next day (received at 7.30a.m on Tuesday 21st, but they didn't register it until Sunday 26th). Sent to Durham. Woman on phone said that it is a myth that different offices work to different timescales and they share the load and redistribute resources where they have the biggest backlog. Either way, not sounding too hopeful. Really gutted. Will update re any progress.

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Junip · 07/10/2021 14:58

@FloconDeNeige I think it’s definitely worth speaking to someone, I phoned a few times and it said they weren’t taking calls, then I got through to an automated service which took my number and someone called me back the next day.

@NanaRant sounds similar to the conversation I had yesterday but I feel like speaking to someone did help my application. Fingers crossed for you.

I also think they messed up by not having clear timescales when we applied - no clear mention of 10 weeks and stated the fast track service was for travel within 3 weeks - worth mentioning if you call I think

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FloconDeNeige · 07/10/2021 15:02

Thanks @Junip !

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NanaRant · 07/10/2021 15:08

Thanks @Junip

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GlitterBiscuits · 08/10/2021 11:24

Applied for DC passport renewal on 10/9.
Arrived back yesterday 7/10.

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tyson2007 · 08/10/2021 11:38

Thank you @glitterbiscuits gives us hope!

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Galaxyheart · 08/10/2021 12:09

Just spoken to the passport office and they have received DD passport just waiting for it to be approved told them that we travel on the 19th which the very helpful assistant has sent an email to try and get it done for then ,feeling a little bit more optimistic about being able to go on holiday

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FloconDeNeige · 08/10/2021 12:21

@Galaxyheart

I can’t even get through. I’ve called three times in the last hour and I get a ‘due to the high volume of calls, we cannot connect you right now’ and then it cuts off.

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Galaxyheart · 08/10/2021 13:44

[quote FloconDeNeige]@Galaxyheart

I can’t even get through. I’ve called three times in the last hour and I get a ‘due to the high volume of calls, we cannot connect you right now’ and then it cuts off.[/quote]
Every time I got cut off I just called straight back I got through to them at 11ish today

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Stickystickystick · 08/10/2021 14:17

Try this number. Someone gave it to me and it's a short wait to be answered 0300 123 1973

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FloconDeNeige · 08/10/2021 17:45

@Stickystickystick
Thanks a lot!

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ejhhhhh · 08/10/2021 17:48

We've got ours back! So like others, it was about 4-5 weeks.

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maofteens · 08/10/2021 17:51

I did mine online, took about four weeks for them to say ok send her old one in. Four weeks after I did that they say ok now we will send out her new one. That was a week ago still haven't received it.

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NanaRant · 08/10/2021 18:03

It was 0300 123 1973 I called - waited around 45 minutes to get through. I felt the woman was going through the motions and reading off the screen. She asked me about my travel date, but didn't give me any reassurances and kept repeating up to 10 weeks. My cut-off is Tuesday/Wednesday at very latest. If I have heard nothing I will need to cancel my holiday on Wednesday night/Thursday morning. Jet2 have agreed to rearrange for a booking fee each, but I have to do it Thursday morning at latest or I lose my money. I have been in tears with this. I so wish I knew about the delays.
Good luck everyone! I'll keep you posted.

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