Passport renewal - current wait times? Old Passport sent but still not tracking?

howryoo

The last time I sorted a renewal for a relative, the old passport was sent by Special Delivery and ended up at the destination the following day and online passport tracking reflected same day of receipt.

On this occasion, the tracking hasn't updated two full days following day of receipt by HMPO (again, Special Delivery was used) ... so 3 days including day of receipt.

Anyone else experienced this? 

How long should I give it before I start to be concerned?

I appreciate it does say on HMPO that there'll be a gap between receipt and tracking to be updated during busy periods.

Was the earlier renewal just lucky - in terms of showing near enough real-time?

martindow

I've just had an incredibly quick turnaround for a passport renewal - received four days after the application.  I made the application online Tuesday afternoon and sent the old passport off using SD the same day.  According to RM tracking it was received on Wednesday morning, but the passport office notification was sent the following day.  Approved message received Friday and your passport has been printed message arrived overnight.  The message saying it would be delivered came on Friday and I got it this morning.  I get the impression that the passport office notices are a day or so later than the events they relate to.

If yours shows as delivered on RM tracking, maybe query it with them on Monday.  Hopefully you will start getting messages from them in the meantime.

The new passport looks black rather than the dark blue I was expecting.

howryoo

Thanks for your reply and sharing your experience.

Your turnaround was sure very fast indeed!  Mind me asking which office dealt with your renewal?

I'll give it a few more days and probably contact them next Tues / Wed.

smudge56

Documents for passports submitted online are sent to a document handing unit who scan the documents on to the system.  The application is then added to the queue of applications.  They are examined from anywhere in the UK. There are examiners working remotely at home as well as in the office.  No particular office is quicker than another.  Tracking may show that your documents have been received by the office you sent it to - when it gets scanned on depends on how busy they are.  

Just now, they are not busy at all, hence applications being processed within a few days.  

There are certain types of applications that have to be processed physically and they get transferred to the local offices - these are the ones that take a bit longer.

martindow

howryoo said:

Thanks for your reply and sharing your experience.

Your turnaround was sure very fast indeed!  Mind me asking which office dealt with your renewal?

I'll give it a few more days and probably contact them next Tues / Wed.

I'm not sure which office dealt with it, but the reference number began with PEX - does that imply Peterborough?  Good luck with your application and I hope that you get some news of its progress soon.

howryoo

Thank you both for your replies.

Judging by what you've indicated smudge56, all documents / old passports should have been receipted and scanned onto system on the day?  I guess the delay is with the document handling units?

smudge56

martindow said:

howryoo said:

Thanks for your reply and sharing your experience.

Your turnaround was sure very fast indeed!  Mind me asking which office dealt with your renewal?

I'll give it a few more days and probably contact them next Tues / Wed.

I'm not sure which office dealt with it, but the reference number began with PEX - does that imply Peterborough?  Good luck with your application and I hope that you get some news of its progress soon.

PEX doesn’t mean Peterborough. It’s just a prefix of the application reference number and it means it has been submitted online 

smudge56

)howryoo said:

Thank you both for your replies.

Judging by what you've indicated smudge56, all documents / old passports should have been receipted and scanned onto system on the day?  I guess the delay is with the document handling units?

It usually takes a couple of days to get scanned on. Once it’s done you will get a text and an email letting you know it’s been received.  If it’s a straightforward renewal it should be examined quickly after that.  You should get texts/emails with the progress. Once you get a notification that it has been approved it will get printed and be delivered within a few days.  If you have a main door house with a letterbox on the door it will be posted through the letterbox. No need for a signature.  Old passport is sent out separately 

howryoo

Thanks smudge56

MGW1976

Hi. My 'new' UK passport was approved today & I got a text message saying 'We've approved your application. We'll let you know when your Passport is ready to be dispatched'. I also received an email saying approved & 'your new Passport is being printed. We'll let you know when ready to dispatch. My question now is, how long will it take to be dispatched/to be received at my UK home address now all has been approved ?

smudge56

It should be with you within 48 hours