Passport Renewal

[bednobs]

anyone renewed a passport lately? online they are telling me it may take 10 weeks. Is that a good estimate?

[naomi24]

I renewed mine on line a year or so back and got it within a few days. Maybe Covid has affected turnaround - although I can't see why it should.

[bednobs]

thanks naomi - i have never waited 10 weeks but i wondered if perhaps covid was making SOMETHING ELSE slow

[Seventy3]

sounds odd to me, mine was back in 5 days recently.

[naomi24]

I thought it was an excellent service. I wonder if the website is publishing the worst scenario as a kind of damage limitation exercise?

[Buenchico]

This time last year the backlog was 400,000 people waiting
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53494998
but the Government then announced a fast-tracking system for people who could prove that they had travel booked in the near future.

The Gov.uk website is still indicating the availability of the 1 Week Fast Track service (£142) and the Online Premium service (£177) but you should note that Passport Office appointments are (to the best of my knowledge) still currently being carried out online, rather than in person.

[woofgang]

Sis got hers back mid march about a month after renewing with paper form...and that was with a slight hitch as she wanted it sent to my address not hers as she is often here, and she sent back the wrong paperwork.

[calmck]

3 weeks for a new one to arrive in Portugal

[ummmm]

When I renewed mine it said 3 weeks but I also got mine back in 5 days.

[woofgang]

I think they massively over estimate so as to save applicants from booking to travel then having no passport.

[Peter Pedant]

why renew it?
you cant go anywh
ere ! ter daah

[woofgang]

PP maybe its symbolic I renewed my passport just before lockdown1. My elderly dog was very ill indeed happy in himself, in no pain or distress but in his last days. I had been in contact with the vet and we had agreed not yet but soon. His bro (still with me) hates being left alone, was fine when younger, and can't get in my car. I was feeling totally trapped at home. "blow this" I thought...well not blow but similar..."there will be a day when my caring duties will be over, there will be a day when the pandemic is over, I will get to travel again, I will get myself a passport! for me its a kind of talisman of the expensive kind....I don't begrudge one second of my caring time but its been something like 15 years now since my choices started to be limited by the needs of my loved ones.....anyway that's it, whinge over.

[bednobs]

i am flying to scotland and my 9yo does not have any other photo id

[Canary42]

It's probably a safety feature in case France decides to restrict the supply of covers.

[sg]

I renewed mine recently expecting a similar timeframe and got it in 4 days. Very impressed.