The Home Office has urged UK travellers not to leave passport applications to the last minute as a backlog in applications means that people could be left facing delays of more than two months.
The Passport Office is experiencing significant processing issues following an influx of post-Covid passport applications.
As many as five million Brits are estimated to have delayed applying for a new passport during the coronavirus pandemic. The Passport Office has said that a recent surge in demand now that travel restrictions have lifted is to blame for the backlog.
New post-Brexit travel rules have also complicated matters, UK citizens are now required to have at least three months of validity on their passport to travel to EU countries and the passport must have been issued within the last 10 years.
What do I do if I need to renew my passport urgently?
The Passport Office is currently recommending that people allow up to 10 weeks for their passport application to be processed, but there are reports that some applications have taken longer than this.
If you need your passport sooner than 10 weeks, then you may need to apply for an urgent passport renewal.
By applying for an urgent renewal, you can get a new passport in as little as two days.
To apply for an urgent passport renewal you must book and attend an appointment at your nearest passport office. You can book and pay for your renewal online at the gov.uk website up to three weeks in advance of your appointment.
If you are unable to book your passport office appointment or pay online, then you can also book and pay for your urgent passport renewal by calling the Passport Adviceline.
How fast can I get my passport renewed?
The fastest your passport can be renewed with an urgent passport renewal is two days from the date of your application.
There are two types of urgent applications; how quickly your passport can be renewed will depend on the type you choose:
- Online Premium - with this service you will be issued a new passport at your passport office appointment. The earliest appointment you can book is two days from the date of your application. You can only use this service to renew an adult passport.
- One Week Fast Track - with this service your new passport will be delivered to you within a week of your appointment at the passport office. You can use this service to renew both an adult or child passport as well as to make changes to your passport or to replace a lost or stolen passport.
How much does it cost to renew a passport urgently?
The cost of renewing your passport urgently varies depending on the service chosen.
It costs £177 (or £187 for a 50-page frequent traveller passport) for an urgent passport renewal using the Premium Online Service - this is the quickest way to renew your passport.
The passport application fee for the One Week Fast Track Service is £142 to renew an adult passport or £122 to renew a child passport.
You must pay for your urgent renewal before your appointment at a passport office.
