No passport-need to travel 2nd October?

Factor25

My son and his friend want to fly to Gran Canaria with us. Friend age 17 needs to get his first full 10yr passport. Passport office say he would be OK applying at the post office and it should come through in 2 weeks (£58). Another option is to go to the passport office in London and he would get it guaranteed within a week (£77), this needs to be booked 2 days in advance so he probably wouldnt get the appointment till Monday. The extra cost of this is quite high considering travel to London and time off work for him. Im tempted to chance the post office option and hope for the best, seeing as its not peak season. Has anyone else done this successfuly?

jasonrat

i imagine there is no guarantee at the post office. if i were him and i really wanted to go on holiday i would do the london trip. depends how desperate he is

Bossyboots

I thought the Post Office system was guaranteed a two week turn around. I have used it myself and know many others who have and it has never taken more than 10 days.

angieb1606

hi i have just had my 2 kids one done it took from time of posting the form to them less than 2 weeks

madduck

Don't want to be a messenger of doom here - but a possible problem might be the photo issue. Regulations regarding what is acceptable/not acceptable for your passport photo have changed and a large number of applications are returned because the photos are not acceptable.

A colleague at work had her application returned 3 times and ended up having to go for the more expensive option of going to the passport office to make sure that the passport was received in time.

terrierlady

I applied on the Saturday and passports were here by the following Friday that included a Bank hol so shouldnt be a problem use the PO and get them to check it get the photos done for around £4.50 in local Kodak shop or private photographer .

funkydom

I just used the post office check and send service to renew mine - only took 5 working days.
Be careful though, the 10 days is NOT guaranteed. If you are worried, and as its a first time application, i'd make the trip to a passport office to be certain.

Factor25

As its a straightforward application, we are going to chance the post office using their checking service. The added costs of applying in London could make the holiday unaffordable considering the airfares rise nearer to departure. Im sure my sons own passport arrived really quickly, but thats always the way when time isnt an issue. Thanks everyone and i'll make sure the po check the photos are acceptable.

terrierlady

Dont worry the PO check the size of the photo they have a small plastic frame that it needs to sit center of , eyes etc at a certain level,just incase you get the new type passport with the chip in.
Not sure if you can copy those in a photocopier for safe keeping in case in damages the metal chip.