Can I upgrade my child’s first passport application before our holiday?

[Ilmboy]

Applied for my DS first passport Sat 2 May , it said applications take 3 weeks I thought stupidly this was from point of application. We had identity confirmed Monday, docs went recorded next day Tues. So should have been with them Wed. But the system only updated late last night. And I've now realized it's 3 weeks from this point. We fly Wed 27 so 19 days from when received . I've found a website that gives current wait times and for a child's first it's 19 days from when docs received.

Will the passport office let me upgrade now to fast track or is it to late ? And yes I already feel like an idiot. I have 2 copies of the birth certificate if that makes it easier so have the documents.

My DS got his first passport in 11 or 12 days from when their documents were accepted last month. We had some faffing around with my older kids passports (their documents were lost) and they still came within the 3 week timeframe. I think from receiving the documents and accepting them took 8 days for the uncomplicated passport, then another 2 to print and send, it came next day.

I think you can upgrade though. I think you just have to ring the helpline and go through them. They were very helpful when dealing with the complications and they answer their phones really quickly so no long hold waits.
I’ve also had it where I’ve been able to phone the courier and ask for same day delivery to make sure my passport arrived on time so that could also be a possibility.

In fact, it was over Easter weekend for DSs passport which I would have thought would have slowed things down but it didn’t seem to at all

My DH applied for passport renewal on a Sunday, I posted the old one on Monday and his new passport arrived on Saturday so six days in total. This was a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks so much . I'm in more of a spiral now as I didn't send my birth certificate my DH missed that bit, and it says we should have sent one of our birth certificates. He assumed we didn't need it as we both inputted valid passport details.

Send it asap. It’s better to send it and not need it than have to wait to hear that you haven’t sent everything and cause a delay.

I'm going to call them at 9am , and see if they can upgrade me to the one week service. Otherwise I will send my birth certificate recorded by 12. What a mess . My anxiety does not deal well this , I'm an idiot should have just done the one week.

Take a breath. You made a mistake (I’ve done the same, and now over compensate by applying months in advance). They are different services so I don’t think you can “upgrade” but definitely worth a call. You will find out if you’ll get the passport prior to the 19 days via text. When we applied for my sons earlier this year we received notification the documents were received on the 7th, it was printed on the 13th, despatched on the 16th and delivered on the 17th. Don’t panic. The worst that can happen is you don’t get it in time and you delay/cancel your holiday. It’s annoying and potentially expensive but no one died.

Your so right no one is sick and no one has died. Passport office said it should be absolutely fine as with both had valid passports before he was born .