British passport renewal question - sending in old passport

Nova1307

Hi folks, 

I understand that the current timeline for renewal is 3-4 weeks after submitting an online application. Does anyone know if the review process/checks performed by UKPA only start after they receive my old passport in the post or do they begin the process and simply not issue the new passport until they have received the old one? 

Reason I ask is that I was thinking of completing the online application while I am overseas and then posting in my old passport upon return to the UK two weeks later but perhaps I'd be wasting my time if they don't look start looking at my application until they have my old passport.

Thanks

Browntoa

I thought renewals tended to take around 7 days 

I'd wait until my return 

TELLIT01

I don't think the process starts until the old passport is received.  I would guess that the old passport is used to confirm identity.

OutdoorQueen

I’ve just renewed my passport tonight and the last screen after payment says:

“What you need to do

Before we can work on your application, you need to:

Send us your old passport”

I’d taken a screen shot of the page so I had the reference number.  

smudge56

Nova1307 said:

Hi folks, 

I understand that the current timeline for renewal is 3-4 weeks after submitting an online application. Does anyone know if the review process/checks performed by UKPA only start after they receive my old passport in the post or do they begin the process and simply not issue the new passport until they have received the old one? 

Reason I ask is that I was thinking of completing the online application while I am overseas and then posting in my old passport upon return to the UK two weeks later but perhaps I'd be wasting my time if they don't look start looking at my application until they have my old passport.

Thanks

Your application doesn’t go into the queue until your passport is received. No point in doing it whilst you are overseas. Won’t make the process any quicker.  Just now there is little or no work so will be processed the day your passport is received and scanned onto the system 

Neil49

See my comments from another post earlier today regarding the process 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6567492/passport-renewal-questions#latest

Just to add that they don't do anything until they receive your old passport. 

jimi_man

The only exception to this is if you need your passport for a work related capacity, in which case you can keep your passport until the new one has been sent out. However you need a particular form and letter/form from your employer so it’s a limited thing. I’m guessing from your post that this may not apply?