Passport Renewal Questions

Cloth_of_Gold

My passport expired two and half years ago and I would like to renew it. Although I am not planning on travelling abroad at the moment I need one for ID purposes. I have some questions and would be grateful for any advice/info.

First, can I use the fast-track service if I'm not travelling or is this just if you have booked to go somewhere abroad?

How long are regular applications taking at the moment and how long does it take for a fast-track?

Is it quicker to make the application online, or if I apply at the Post Office will it take the same time?

If I make the application online do I need my government gateway ID? I have one but have forgotten the password and when I tried to re-set it recently to check my NI contributions it wanted either my passport number (which I don't have of course as I assume an expired one wouldn't count) or information that would be held on my credit file, such as the date when I took out my mobile phone contract or credit card. There is no way I could remember such things so I'm not sure how I can get it re-set and as it wasn't essential at that time and as I've always got a huge 'to do' list I just left it in the 'too difficult' tray.

The photo on my expired passport was taken 12 years ago and naturally I look older plus I've lost a very great deal of weight so it doesn't really look like me now. Does this mean I will need to get someone who qualifies from their list of approved counter-signatories to sign to say the photo is of me? How is this done if you apply online? Is the change in my appearance likely to cause any difficulties?

Is there anything else I should know or take into consideration?

Thank you in advance for any advice or information.

eDicky

Recent posts here indicate receipt of regular online renewals within a week. Using the Post Office could well take longer. If the photo you submit is assessed to differ from the previous too significantly, a countersignatory would be requested. During the online application there's probably a question and option to provide such.

maisie_cat

I renewed my passport recently at the post office, my previous one expired in 2014 so the photo was 19 years ago. I had also changed my name and the new passport was delivered in 10 days.

NoodleDoodleMan

Do you have a UK photo driving licence ?

That's equally as acceptable as a passport for ID purposes.

Cloth_of_Gold

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Do you have a UK photo driving licence ?

That's equally as acceptable as a passport for ID purposes.

I do but I have been asked to provide both, as well as a recent utility bill or bank statement.

DullGreyGuy

Cloth_of_Gold said:

First, can I use the fast-track service if I'm not travelling or is this just if you have booked to go somewhere abroad?

If you are willing to pay for it then you can use it, you dont have to justify why you are using it. 

Cloth_of_Gold said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Do you have a UK photo driving licence ?

That's equally as acceptable as a passport for ID purposes.

I do but I have been asked to provide both, as well as a recent utility bill or bank statement.

Are you sure you need two forms of government Photo ID? Normally you can present your driving license as that and use a utility bill AND bank statement or Council Tax bill etc as you 2 forms of proof of address. 

Cloth_of_Gold

DullGreyGuy said:

Cloth_of_Gold said:

First, can I use the fast-track service if I'm not travelling or is this just if you have booked to go somewhere abroad?

If you are willing to pay for it then you can use it, you dont have to justify why you are using it. 

Cloth_of_Gold said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Do you have a UK photo driving licence ?

That's equally as acceptable as a passport for ID purposes.

I do but I have been asked to provide both, as well as a recent utility bill or bank statement.

Are you sure you need two forms of government Photo ID? Normally you can present your driving license as that and use a utility bill AND bank statement or Council Tax bill etc as you 2 forms of proof of address. 

It's in a request form a solicitor about an inheritance. It says AND, in capitals.  It does seem odd though as some people won't even have a passport or a driving licence. I want to renew it anyway but I am going to ring the solicitor about something else in his letter so will ask him if it's really necessary as it will hold up things.

DullGreyGuy

Cloth_of_Gold said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Cloth_of_Gold said:

First, can I use the fast-track service if I'm not travelling or is this just if you have booked to go somewhere abroad?

If you are willing to pay for it then you can use it, you dont have to justify why you are using it. 

Cloth_of_Gold said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Do you have a UK photo driving licence ?

That's equally as acceptable as a passport for ID purposes.

I do but I have been asked to provide both, as well as a recent utility bill or bank statement.

Are you sure you need two forms of government Photo ID? Normally you can present your driving license as that and use a utility bill AND bank statement or Council Tax bill etc as you 2 forms of proof of address. 

It's in a request form a solicitor about an inheritance. It says AND, in capitals.  It does seem odd though as some people won't even have a passport or a driving licence. I want to renew it anyway but I am going to ring the solicitor about something else in his letter so will ask him if it's really necessary as it will hold up things.

Sure there are some disability rights groups that would be interested, and how they propose a blind person gets a driving license (for example)

Cloth_of_Gold

maisie_cat said:

I renewed my passport recently at the post office, my previous one expired in 2014 so the photo was 19 years ago. I had also changed my name and the new passport was delivered in 10 days.

Do they still ask you where your parents were born, even for a renewal? Mine both died many years ago and I think they were both born in the town where I was born but I'm not 100% sure my father was, although he was certainly born in the UK. I will ask my brother if he has my father's birth certificate, just to be sure.

Cloth_of_Gold

DullGreyGuy said:

Cloth_of_Gold said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Cloth_of_Gold said:

First, can I use the fast-track service if I'm not travelling or is this just if you have booked to go somewhere abroad?

If you are willing to pay for it then you can use it, you dont have to justify why you are using it. 

Cloth_of_Gold said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Do you have a UK photo driving licence ?

That's equally as acceptable as a passport for ID purposes.

I do but I have been asked to provide both, as well as a recent utility bill or bank statement.

Are you sure you need two forms of government Photo ID? Normally you can present your driving license as that and use a utility bill AND bank statement or Council Tax bill etc as you 2 forms of proof of address. 

It's in a request form a solicitor about an inheritance. It says AND, in capitals.  It does seem odd though as some people won't even have a passport or a driving licence. I want to renew it anyway but I am going to ring the solicitor about something else in his letter so will ask him if it's really necessary as it will hold up things.

Sure there are some disability rights groups that would be interested, and how they propose a blind person gets a driving license (for example)

That's a very good point!

They also want a recent utility bill or bank statement. The letter said they do an online ID verification check and the more ID they have the less likely it is that the check will fail, but even with all these things it might still fail and if so they will ask for more documents.

eDicky

Cloth_of_Gold said:

maisie_cat said:

I renewed my passport recently at the post office, my previous one expired in 2014 so the photo was 19 years ago. I had also changed my name and the new passport was delivered in 10 days.

Do they still ask you where your parents were born, even for a renewal?

No, only for first application.