General Chat

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone had renewed their passports recently.?

Posted our applications off 2 weeks ago today......, have heard nothing, but the money has been taken from our bank account yesterday,

Just wondered does anyone know if that means they are on their way to us now?....or do they take the money and then begin to process them??


Thanks

Nicky

I have to renew mine soon, will be interested to find out when you get yours Nicky, hope it doesn't take too long. Mine actually runs out in Sept but of course, with the daft rules, I can no longer use mine as there aren't six months left on it. Stupid rule in my opinion.
How much does it cost now? I think it's really expensive?


Lizx

Hi
We renewed ours earlier this year and it took about two weeks.
Cost is £77.50 but we had ours checked at post office so that cost a bit more.
Worth it though.
Von

£77.50 for Adults........

I had to get 3.......youngest daughter now 17 so qualifies for an Adult Passport

I think 16 and under are around £50.00 but only last for 5 years...


Will let u know when i get mine back..


Nicky

2 weeks Von ...that was quick.....i`d imagine earlier in the year they may be quicker.....now is probably a very busy time for them...


Nicky

'Official' timescale is as follows:-

1. New applications - six weeks
2. Renewals - three weeks
3. Renewals via Post Office checking service - two weeks

Expect to wait longer during busy periods, i.e. run up to Easter and other Holiday periods.

What a lot of money tho, especially when they have all the details and they just need updating.
We had an office open here in Norwich a short time back and now I think it's been closed due to cut backs! Never mind all the money that went into setting it up and hiring staff.

Lizx

A 16 year old is classed as an adult for costing.

This site mentions timings and costs and says you can renew an existing passport early and extra whole months outstanding will be added to the new passport.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/howlongittakesandurgentappplications/DG_174148

Gwyn

Thanks Gwyn.....I did realise that any time left would be added, but unfortunatly our passports had all run out.

Previously there didn`t seem much point in spending the money if your not going abroad, luckily this year we are going away ...hence the need for renewal.


Nicky

We can go on day trips from here to France or Belgium, but daughter is holding back from renewing grandson's passport until he needs it.
He will be 16 in the summer, so she thought they would wait until he needs a passport and get the longer-lasting adult one.

Enjoy your stay abroad.

Gwyn

We renewed our passports a couple of weeks ago, used the post office checking service.
We went to post office on a saturday morning and the following friday, we had them back. 6 Days in all.

The cancelled passports arrived via snail mail, and hour later the new passports arrived by courier.

Cant believe it only took 6 days even now

Liz

Elizabeth ......that was quick,

I didn`t use the checking service, as £232.50 was enough to pay without another £22.00 for them to be checked!!


Yes Gwyn, the 5 year one for young people is a bit of a con....it still costs £55.00, its not as though its half the price of an adult one.


Nicky

Hi Nicky

Yes it was quick, We decided to use the post office service, for two reasons, On checking ours , we realised they expired end March, and there was a chance we might have to travel for family reasons, fairly quick, (luckily not) and someone we know, sent application off and had application returned twice for being in complete, the third time they used the post office, anyhway, with form filled out same and it got accepted..

Still surprised how quick it was returned though.

Liz

It's such a con that even tho I have a passport valid till September I can't book a holiday as the passport has less than 6 months on it. Sooo kind of them to add the months but you could still miss out I think depending on the date of expiry and the date you renew.

Lizx

Got mine and oh`s passports delivered by Courier today....old ones returned in the post a couple of hours later.

Daughter needs to have an interview as she had previously been on my passport, at least got the letter today to arrange the interveiw......hoping we can arrange it for next week, so her passport should follow quickly after that.

Just relieved to at least get 2 of them back....... 3 and a half weeks in all..


Nicky

Hi Purple,
According to the web site you can apply for a new passport up to nine months before expiry, and any used "time" will be added on.

Liz

Thanks Liz, I knew it would be added on but am sure I saw somewhere that only whole months would be added, mine runs out mid September.

Will have to see what happens when I can afford to renew it, not sure if we will go abroad this year or not yet. Still trying to decide where to go and when to book time off from o.h.'s workplace.

Lizx