UK Passport Wait Times

I have recently renewed passports for two of my children – and thanks to my audhd brain I have experience of two different application types. Not only that, both times I have had to renew have left us in a position where the passport may not come in time for a trip! I have learned a few things about UK passport wait times and how to figure out if your passport may make it in time for your trip.

Planning a family trip involves numerous details, and ensuring that everyone’s passports are up-to-date is paramount. Understanding the current processing times for UK passports can help you plan effectively and avoid last-minute stress. Here’s an overview of the standard processing times for various passport applications and a resource to monitor real-time updates.

Standard UK Passport Processing Times

According to HM Passport Office, the typical processing time for a standard passport application in the UK is up to 3 weeks. This timeframe applies to various application types, including:

• First Adult Passport
• Adult Passport Renewal
• First Child Passport
• Child Passport Renewal

It’s important to note that processing may take longer if additional information is required or if an interview is necessary. The processing time starts when HM Passport Office receives your documents as opposed to when you submit your application (as you can apply online as well as in person and by post).

Faster UK Passport Processing Times

The HM Passport Office for the UK does offer alternative passport processing service for those who need their passport more quickly. Rules wary with this service, what I mean by that is that adults and children do not have the same options available to them. You can find out more about the different options available and eligibility for them here.

Real-Time Passport Processing Updates

While the official guideline provides a general expectation, actual processing times can vary. For real-time updates, Passport Waiting Time offers daily averages based on recent applicant data. As of March 28, 2025, the reported average processing times are:

• First Adult Passport: 14 days
• Adult Passport Renewal: 10 days
• First Child Passport: 12 days
• Child Passport Renewal: 11 days

These figures are crowd-sourced from users and provide a more immediate snapshot of current processing durations. For further updates and community insights, you can follow their Facebook page: UK Passport Waiting Time.

Tips for a Smooth Passport Application

To ensure a timely passport processing experience:

• Apply Early: Submit your application well in advance of your planned travel dates. I know this is not always possible, so read through the different application processing types and pick one that works for your planned travels.
• Complete Documentation: Ensure all required documents are accurately completed and submitted. This includes making sure that you use a photograph that will be accepted the first time (I will add a bonus section at the end of this article about the different options you have for this).
• Use Trackable Delivery: Send your application via a service that allows you to track its delivery. When you apply online you can choose to use a secure delivery service for a renewal (where you are asked to send the old passport back) and this costs an additional £5.
• Monitor Application Status: Utilize the passport application tracking service to stay informed about your application’s progress. You get given a unique application reference you can use to log in and see a time-stamped timeline of the different parts of your application process.

By staying informed about current UK passport processing times and following these guidelines, you can better plan your family’s travel and enjoy a stress-free experience.

How To Make Sure Your Passport Photo is Accepted

Here is a list of options that are best for getting your passport photo, keep in mind that some options won’t work for you as it depends on the type of application that you do (an online application will need a digital photo, for example).

In a photo shop/by a photographer

You can get your passport photo taken by a professional. This ensures it is going to meet passport office requirements because the person taking the photo is experienced and knows exactly the different criteria for passport photos for each age group. You can ask for printed photos and also request a digital copy. The last time we used a photographer he emailed me a copy of the photo. Most photographers will be able to give you a passport photo code that you can use during your application with the HM passport office.

In a photo booth

Many stores and supermarkets have photo booths that you can use to get your passport photo taken in and you can walk away with it immediately. A photo booth will likely also be able to create a code for you that you can use during your application that will pull your specific photos and add them to the application for you.

By taking your own photo at home

You can also now take your own photographs for your UK passport at home. This is a very welcomed update to the application process and for families like mine with autistic children, this has been much better for us because it removes so many pressures like sensory input, new environments and time pressures. The downside is that photographs taken without professional input are less likely to be accepted – but I have some tricks you can use to increase the chance of acceptance so your application process goes smoothly and quickly.

Read all of the rules and requirements

Make sure you understand what is expected for the passport photograph before you try taking any. The rules are more flexible for children and there is also flexibility for people with a disability.

Just start

Try not to overthink it – I was awful for this the first time I tried taking my own passport photos. I read the rules over and over and talked myself out of trying it for so long because I didn’t have the perfect white wall or because I didn’t think I could get my son to stand still. Just try! It was actually much easier than I had thought and you don’t need a perfectly white background – it has to be light. There are some examples available on the government website about what is okay, and what isn’t. Take a look at them and go give it a shot!

Use a professional compliance service

I was unsure what to call this service, so I’ve gone with compliance service. What I mean is you can submit your home-taken photographs to a professional to have them review it and tell you if it is likely to pass the HM passport office checks. What I like about this service is:

• You select the type (country) of passport you are applying for and the system will edit the photograph to meet the size requirements
• The online system can lighten up the background of your photograph and remove any shadows
• You will get an immediate answer about whether it is likely to pass or not
• An expert can review the photograph in more detail and tell you if you need to retake it or not

Use a passport photo app to make your own edits

There are apps you can use to make edits yourself, or there are apps that work just like the online passport photo checking service I described above. Either way, they are another option for you to make minor fixes to the photo you have taken.

For a much more detailed description on what I do to take my own passport photos at home and more links to where to edit and fix them up, check out this post I wrote. So far, I have not had any rejection by the HM passport office.