Online passport renewal

coastguard26

I am seeking advice from anyone who has recently completed an on-line application for a passport renewal.

My question is: at what point are you required to return the existing passport to the passport office for cancellation?

I need my 'old' passport for travel next month, but I also want to obtain a renewal for travel in 14 weeks time, so I need to get cracking. If I do an online application now, will I be able to keep hold of my existing passport until I receive the new one, or am I required to surrender it immediately as a condition of applying for a renewal? I hope this makes sense.

Sandtree

They ask for it immediately after and to the best of my knowledge you get into a queue for the examiner to look at the request only after its formally been received (ie its scanned onto their system not just physically in the office - which in itself has an ETA of 2 weeks or so now).

You will gain little submitting the application now if you aren't going to be sending the old one off until next month 

eDicky

If you apply online and don't immediately send in your old passport you will receive messages asking you to submit your documents until (and maybe for a while after) you do so.

However in my case (last year) the first photograph I submitted was rejected, a new one submitted and that one accepted, all while they were still asking for documents (proof of overseas residential address) to be submitted.

So it seems that in theory at least you could make your application and have your photograph approved, before sending in your old passport, thereby making at least some progress. Still I'm not sure that it would be worthwhile doing so in your case, even if true.

mr_stripey

I renewed two recently.

It asked me to return the old passport immediately and I got emails to the effect that nothing would happen until it was received,

I returned both by royal mail special delivery - new passports arrived approx 2 weeks later

coastguard26

mr_stripey said:

I renewed two recently.

It asked me to return the old passport immediately and I got emails to the effect that nothing would happen until it was received,

I returned both by royal mail special delivery - new passports arrived approx 2 weeks later

Thanks for this mr_stripey, and also to Sandtree and eDicky for their responses.

My sister-in-law had told me that she renewed in February, but she thinks she did not have to send her old one back until the new was had been received. This did sound a bit questionable, hence my post. I think I will do the on-line application just before I leave next month and return the old one as soon as I am back home in the hope that I will at least be in the queue, as suggested by eDicky

onashoestring

When you renew - you are asked to submit  your old passport as part of checking your identity. Your application won’t progress far without it, in fact you might get pushed to the back of the queue..if they have to keep asking for it . 

pattycake

I submitted my online application in April and was asked to return my old passport as part of the process.  I sent it the same day by tracked, signed for Royal Mail (cost nearly £7!).  Although I could see it was received the next day, it didn’t show as received for nearly two weeks.  Once the status was changed to received the procedure moved quickly and I got my new document within the week.  So around 3 weeks from application.

My impression is that the application would not be progressed without receipt of the document being replaced.  My old passport does not actually expire until next February but would not have given me the required 6 month validity for a trip in September.  I was worried about turn around times so submitted early to be safe.

Sandtree

coastguard26 said:
My sister-in-law had told me that she renewed in February, but she thinks she did not have to send her old one back until the new was had been received. This did sound a bit questionable, hence my post. I think I will do the on-line application just before I leave next month and return the old one as soon as I am back home in the hope that I will at least be in the queue, as suggested by eDicky

Think she is getting confused with her driving license or such where the ordering is different.

You must return the old one or declare it lost before your passport application will be progressed.

Robin9

I renewed mine last month - sent the old one the day after my online application. New one received the next week, old one a couple of weeks later.

I don't think the system will allow you to have two "valid" passports in your possession

onashoestring

According to “the points guy”

“Unless you have another valid passport (i.e. issued by another country), you will not be able to leave the U.K. during the period the renewal is processing as you will not hold a valid passport.”

https://thepointsguy.co.uk/guide/when-to-renew-passport/

You may need to pay for a premium service to be sure you get it back in time for your second trip . 

Sandtree

Robin9 said:

I don't think the system will allow you to have two "valid" passports in your possession

Actually you can... UK is one of the very few countries that will issue with two passports... guidance notes are at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1020932/Additional_Passports__V10_FOR_GOV.UK_PUBLICATION_.pdf 

Its achieved through explicitly requesting a second one though and providing evidence of a need for one not just by failing to send back one. 

Only known one chap with one (others who could justifiably need one have a second nationality instead) and have to say it didn't go down well in the US with the TSA who claimed it was illegal, counterfeit etc but eventually let him in.

onashoestring said:

According to “the points guy”

“Unless you have another valid passport (i.e. issued by another country), you will not be able to leave the U.K. during the period the renewal is processing as you will not hold a valid passport.”

https://thepointsguy.co.uk/guide/when-to-renew-passport/

You may need to pay for a premium service to be sure you get it back in time for your second trip . 

The "ie" should be an "eg" as per the above