How to make sure your passport application is processed in time for your holiday - The Stratford Observer

How to make sure your passport application is processed in time for your holiday

Stratford Editorial 16th May, 2022 Updated: 16th May, 2022   0

Going on holiday should be a relaxing experience. But if the last few months are anything to go by, attempting to travel abroad could raise stress levels more than the most demanding day at work.

After two years of very few people applying for passports (over 5 million Brits delayed getting passports during the pandemic according to the HM Passport Office), suddenly 9.5 million of us are making applications now all looking to hit the beach somewhere exotic this summer.

So if flight cancellations and long airport queues weren’t enough to contend with, now thousands of Brits face the prospect of not even being able to reach check-in gates due to understandable delays for passport applications.

But fear not, you can get ahead of the game and make sure your passport is secured long before take-off. Just make sure you take these considerations on board…

Give yourself plenty of time

To cope with the influx, HMPO has increased the advised time for making applications to 10 weeks. Most countries require at least six months on a passport and two full pages. So if you’ve almost filled your passport or if you have less than nine months remaining, it’s probably worth applying now.

Apply for fast-track service




Photo of a new UK passport. Picture credit: PA Photo/Alamy.

If 10 weeks is far too long to wait – or you’ve only just discovered your passport is missing – there are options for faster services, but be prepared to pay and make a journey to either Belfast, Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport or Peterborough.

The ‘1 Week Fast Track’ service is available to adults renewing or replacing a passport, and for children requesting their first passport. (For first time adult passports, the only option is to use the 10 week ‘non-urgent’ service.)


A standard 34-page passport costs £142 for an adult and £122 for a child – compared to £75.50 and £49. The only snag here is that applications must be made on a paper form available from the Post Office. You can then make a face-to-face appointment for a passport interview, available up to three weeks in advance.

The best option – but also the most expensive – is the Online Premium Service, with 30-minute face-to-face appointments up to two days after an online application is made. This is only available to adults renewing or replacing a passport issued after December 31, 2001, and costs from £177. Photos can be taken on a smartphone and uploaded online, making it a far swifter process.

For both these services, the biggest problem is securing an available appointment. But it’s worth regularly checking the website (gov.uk) as slots are added daily. Just have your documents ready and be prepared to move quickly.

Get a bigger passport

Frequent travellers should consider applying for a 50-page passport. The same process applies but you’ll pay on average £10 more. Great value considering the future hassles you can avoid.

Make sure you have all the correct paperwork

Human error is one of the main reasons so many passport applications are stalled. When filling out forms, double check the correct name spelling and date of birth have been given.

Make sure your photo follows all the rules

Make sure your photo follows all the rules. Photo: PA Photo/Alamy.

Follow the guidelines for passport pictures to the letter to ensure yours isn’t rejected. According to HMPO, photos from a booth or shop are more likely to be approved than a photo taken on a phone. For more tips, visit gov.uk/photos-for-passports.

If your passport gets stuck in the system

If you’re currently waiting for a processing passport and are worried about timings, contact the Passport Advice Line. If you’re lucky you’ll get through on the webchat, but you can also send an email and await a reply in 72 hours, or keep calling (and calling) 0300 222 0000.

Be prepared though, it is very difficult to get through, so allow as much time as possible before your holiday.

A passport mislaid in the system can be fast tracked two-weeks before a flight, but not a day before.

Director General of HM Passport Office, Abi Tierney, said:

Now that international travel has resumed, we know people will be looking at going away on holiday and yet many people are leaving applying for a passport too late.

The summer holidays are fast approaching so if you need a new passport, we urge you to apply now.

Our dedicated staff are working tirelessly to ensure that passport applications are processed as quickly as possible.

Applying online is the cheapest and easiest way to obtain your passport.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Stratford Observer.

Announcements

Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more.

Advertising

Advertise with the Stratford Observer to reach your audience

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Stratford Observer newspaper.