child's first passport - is it really 10 weeks or is it shorter/longer pls talk to me

Vsirbdo · 11/06/2022 22:17

Both my DCs took 6 weeks this year for their first; this was applied for in April and came in May. One of my other DC is waiting for a replacement though and it seems to be taking longer. The person who verified their identity did it immediately which helped

saraclara · 11/06/2022 22:28

My granddaughters took nine weeks. It arrived two weeks ago.

saraclara · 11/06/2022 22:29

I think that children's passports are all processed at Bootle. Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong though.

Original poster

worriedaboutmoney2022 · 11/06/2022 22:30

I'm thinking I'll just apply this week and hope for the best!! There's plenty of flight availability so hopefully we'd get something if the passport came back in time I just wish I had ordered one earlier!

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whattodo2019 · 11/06/2022 22:31

We have just renewed a 16yr olds passport which took 3 weeks in total and a 14 yr old which took 4 weeks. Bloody amazing!!!!!

AdInfinitum12 · 11/06/2022 22:34

worriedaboutmoney2022 · 11/06/2022 22:13

So we have a weeks leave Booked end of august and our friends who live in France have suggested we go and see them, all sounding great we only need flights
However my youngest doesn't have a passport
If I apply this week - is it likely to come back?
We are Notts so our applications would go to Peterborough
I've looked but there is no fast track face to face appointments available atm

Can anyone share any experiences?

Why do you think it would go to Peterborough? I'm in Long Eaton and mine went to Belfast! I assumed it was just random allocation.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 11/06/2022 22:34

Passports are just allocated to a random office, doesn't matter where you live. DDs went to different offices and I applied for them both at same time...

Average is about 40 days for First Child at the moment according to passportwaitingtime.co.uk.

Titsflyingsouth · 11/06/2022 22:36

You passport wouldn't necessarily go to Peterborough, Op. They often send them anywhere now. (Live in Essex and my application got sent to Durham!)

I think you will probably be fine. A lot of the backlog issues affected people who applied in Feb and March. People who applied from April onwards seems to have been processed quicker. But I wouldn't take too long to get the application in.

Worst comes to the worst, if it doesn't arrive, turn up at the passport office 48 hours before your flight and they will fast track it for you and give it to you the same day.

Ylvamoon · 11/06/2022 22:36

Time frame is pot luck, you can try and gauge or look into the crystal ball but in the end it's down to the department/ human processing your application.

Our DC's were renewals and we applied simultaneously. (DH and I went through the forms together on our tablets)
DC 1 arrived within 3 weeks. DC2 is 6 weeks in and we are still waiting!

strawberryblue · 11/06/2022 22:37

Mine didn't take that long I was really worried. From start to finish 5 weeks. Baby's first passport.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 11/06/2022 22:39

I don’t think passport applications go to your nearest office. It’s random. Last time I applied for the DC’s passports, they went to different offices.

RagingWoke · 11/06/2022 22:47

It's pretty random where they go and how long it takes. I applied for a child renewal and a first passport at the same time, renewal was back in 3 weeks, first one was 4 weeks but have seen others have a 6, 10 and even 16 week turnaround. At least one was with the carrier for 2 weeks before it was delivered while mine were both printed, sent to the carrier and delivered in 2/3 days.

I would do the application but hold off booking flights until it's back if you can. It's probably 50/50 you'll get it on time.

oznia · 11/06/2022 22:48

You can't assume it will go to Peterborough! It's pretty random where it will end up.

Original poster

worriedaboutmoney2022 · 11/06/2022 23:37

Titsflyingsouth · 11/06/2022 22:36

You passport wouldn't necessarily go to Peterborough, Op. They often send them anywhere now. (Live in Essex and my application got sent to Durham!)

I think you will probably be fine. A lot of the backlog issues affected people who applied in Feb and March. People who applied from April onwards seems to have been processed quicker. But I wouldn't take too long to get the application in.

Worst comes to the worst, if it doesn't arrive, turn up at the passport office 48 hours before your flight and they will fast track it for you and give it to you the same day.

@AdInfinitum12

The reason I mention Peterborough is only what the lady at the local post office said - I was planning on taking the forms to her to send off all together and she said that they would go to Peterborough but yeah, guessing if they are inundated they could end up anywhere

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ScootsMcHoy · 11/06/2022 23:44

Can't you do it online?

Original poster

worriedaboutmoney2022 · 12/06/2022 00:03

ScootsMcHoy · 11/06/2022 23:44

Can't you do it online?

Yes I could do it online but the lady in the post office said it's usually quicker if they do it because then the birth certificate etc gets sent off with the forms as opposed to waiting for the documents etc and when they're couriered from the post office those ones are dealt with before ones people do online?
How true this is I don't know 🤷‍♀️

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