Child passport renewal times

[Stickystickystick]

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.

@BananaPB

Was that to me? If so, yes she’s British

@nhsgirl mine changed to processing on Monday/Tuesday and I have the passport in my hand today. This could be good news for you

@Stickystickystick oh god I really hope so when did you get notified of approval after it changed to processing plan

My timeline

@Laila747

You only need that if you’re British by decent (and not by birth). So for example, I’m British but my DC were born in Switzerland (father is French). They are British by decent (from me). If they want British nationality for their own children in future, they will need to supply my British birth certificate.

@FloconDeNeige

Thankyou!

Holiday amended to fly on 26th. So hoping the application which was submitted on 18th sept and the doc rec’d on 24th sept is approved on time otherwise I’ve just wasted another £1210!!
Passport currently in ‘application being processed’ this is worrying me tbh xx

@NHSgirl I'm so sorry you are going through all this stress. Keep us posted

I so hope it comes through for you @NHSgirl. You deserve this trip. Hopefully none of us will ever have a run up to a holiday quite as stressful as this again

@NHSgirl - really feeling for you. What a horrendously stressful time for your family! So, I rearranged my holiday to January with Jet2 (supposed to be flying from Edinburgh Airport tomorrow and travelling down today) and it was all just too tight. No reassurances despite calling twice. I had to change otherwise I'd lose 100% of what I'd paid for my holiday.
Well, I have just heard it has been approved! Too late for this holiday, but still nice to know it will come (hopefully?) next week.
Here is my timeline for interest. Very similar timescales to yours @NHSgirl, so I think you have good reason to hope for your rearranged holiday!

Application history
StatusDate
Application approved 1:20pm on 15 October 2021
Documents received 10:37am on 26 September 2021
Application received 7:39pm on 19 September 2021
Application submitted 7:38pm on 19 September 2021

Good luck to all. I have told EVERYONE I know to get their renewals in, in plenty of time. Never again.....

Phoned the passport office again to be told it was still waiting to be examined I sent my application through the post office check and send as I thought it would be quicker sent 9/9 still not had an official response from them only found out by phoning them that they had received it on 13/9 and I'm still in the queue for examination it's not looking good for our family holiday.

We are in the same position. Submitted on September 2nd! Waiting to be examined apparently but that could take 2 weeks. We are meant to be going away on Friday .

NanaRant that's helpful thank you. My timeline is similar to yours, application started 20th and docs received 28th so hopefully we're only a couple of days behind you. 🤞

Ours has just been delivered!

@pingster that is fantastic news!! You fly 23 Oct don’t you? I hope you snd your family have an amazing time xx

Quick question - how can I track delivery? TNT not recognising the details and going round in a loop on the phone. Do you get a TNT reference number by e-mail?
A bit stressed having got this far. Was dispatched Friday and wanting to check who is delivering it (I am in the Scottish Highlands, so may not be TNT...all very vague online).
Thanks in advance.

So the passport was finally allocated to an examiner at 10:37am. Unfortunately average turnaround times are not known 🤣🤦‍♀️ Urgent and compassionate emails are taking up to 8 days to read, a new mailbox has been created as the other has Max’d out 😬 so we remain with hope we can fly out on the amended date of 26 October xx

NHSGirl, you've definitely got a strong shot. Usually it's only 2-3 days after that you receive. Good luck

What a stress fest @NHSgirl. We booked a sneaky gettaway on the back of my passport being dispatched Friday...except, it wasn't...allegedly dispatched Sat at 6, now told today at 3.30 to TNT then Royal Mail. The lovely woman I spoke to says I will definitely get it Wednesday. Honestly, my nerves are shattered. I have no idea how that woman remains so cheerful. What a job! x

@NanaRant I have said the same to every helpful person I have spoken to over the 52 calls made!! Mind you not managed to speak to that many helpful people, but those I have I said I can honestly say and being an NHS worker I really do not know how you do this job. The system is so broken and you are left with the fall out x
I’ve got my fingers crossed for you x

@NHSgirl I feel positive for you. It usually turns around pretty quick. From another NHS girl

Aww thanks @Stickystickystick and @MiniCooperLover I really hope so. One of the other families we were meant to travel with yesterday also had to cancel, her son came down with covid 😢 so the whole thing has been a disaster x

I've just this minute had an email saying it's been approved and will be sent for printing .... what's our thinking it'll be back by Saturday ??!? 🙏🙏🙏

A very good chance I'd say!

@MiniCooperLover fantastic news what’s your timeline pls