Passport office closures over Christmas? Also quickest out of Check & Send or online

A_little_stressed!!

Hi,


Does the Passport office where you send postal or online applications close over Xmas? If so what days (I'm guessing Christmas Day & New Years Day, but are they closed for a week?)






Same question for question for passport customer service centers (or is this the same place?)


Which is quicker, Check & Send, or online application?


Do I need new photos when I renewed my drivers licence in Dec 13, as I'm sure my OH used his new drivers licence photo they already had for his passport renewal?


If I'm looking to travel before or about Jan 10th is the Fast track 1 week service my only option?


Thank you, from Dumbo, the silliest girl in town :-(

Robin9

You could ring them and ask ?

A_little_stressed!!

I would, but I realised after 8pm, they are closed now & I could do with an answer now so I can't decide which route to take. Tomorrow is a long time away & I need to sleep tonight

SW17

It's a govt department, they will not work on public holidays, but will on all other working days, such as between Christmas and NY. May not have full staff though. The contract centres say they are open weekends and public hols for phone calls, do t know if that includes Christmas Day. Most of what you're asking is on gov.uk

I hope this is a renewal, as if it's a first adult passport you are not going on 10 Jan. I would say you are right on the margin and possibly too late for check and send, fast track service is 1 week excluding public holidays.

https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently

Pretty sure you will need to provide new photos with your application, I don't think the passport office and DVLA communicate on such matters.

https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports

A_little_stressed!!

Thank you very much. :beer::beer:

photome

If it was me wanting to travel on 10th jan and it being xmas, I would only go with the fast track
anything else would change your user name to a "lot"

peachyprice

SW17 wrote: »

Pretty sure you will need to provide new photos with your application, I don't think the passport office and DVLA communicate on such matters.

https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports

They do, but I think it's a one way street. You can use your up to date passport photos for a driving licence renewal if you are registered on the government gateway, but AFAIK it doesn't work the other way around yet.

Check and Send isn't going to make your application any quicker than if you send it yourself by recorded delivery, they all go the same way.

For travel on 10th Jan I would only do either a fast track or an in person application, it's just not worth the risk of a postal application getting held up in a christmas backlog.

smudge56

Offices are closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day open 27th closed New Year's Day (and 2nd January in Scotland. )Wouldn't risk the standard service with so little time. Fast track is £103. But worth the extra if you have already booked. Online is NOT quicker. It can sometimes take more time if the declaration page is not printed properly eg if your printer is out of alignment. You'll then have to fill out a new written form anyway.
Photos must have been taken within the last month.