UK Passport Renewal Timings

[newbie202020]

I sent my passport for renewal on 16 May 2025. It's still showing as not received by the Passport office. Does anyone have any recent experience as to how long this usually takes? Anything I can find online is really vague and I'm worried it's been lost in the post!

Thanks

In our experience it can take at least a week after it physically gets to the office before they open the envelope. I know that because we always send the old one with tracking and signature. Once they do open it, though, it goes fast and you get SMS messages more or less every day.

Yes I have just done mine. Sent it off on 16th May and I’ve had confirmation today it’s approved and will be with me tomorrow, quick turnaround. Hopefully yours will be with you soon, too!

I recently renewed my DS passport but I did this online.

03 May Submitted application online
08 May Expired passport received (posted with signed for service)
13 May Application approved
14 May Passport printed
15 May New Passport received

Not sure if you did a paper application or online.

Definitely recommended online service as you receive text and email keeping you informed every step of the process.

I've recently just done mine and got it back within a 3 week period, they also returned my old passport with it so timing wise wasn't too bad depending on when you need it for I suppose?

Thanks all - hopefully I'll be hearing something soon. I did the renewal online and rather foolishly (& v unlike me as I'm usually really risk-averse) sent by unrecorded post! Still showing as awaiting my passport for hoping it's there and just waiting to be opened and processed!

It took about a week for them to acknowledge receipt of my old passport- even though I sent it 15 hr recorded.
They do say that it can take sometime as they have to check them all manually. Less than 3 weeks after the online application and old and new passports were back .
once it is approved it’s really quick.

That’s strange. I did the application and sent my old one off last Wednesday, new one was here on Saturday. Super quick!

Tbf, we’ve just had a Bank Holiday and the staff probably booked some time off themselves with it being a half term. Give it til next week.

Thanks all - still no sign of a passport! Passport Office tracking of my renewal still showing as not received but gov website indicates they are experiencing a very high volume of renewals at the moment. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my old passport hasn't been lost in the post!