Holidaymakers faced long queues at Liverpool passport office as people from across the country to get new papers.
Prior to the covid pandemic, people were advised of waits of around three weeks. But processing times can now take up to 10 weeks, according to HM Passport Office.
The government has seen an unprecedented surge in applications as five million delayed applying for a new passport during the pandemic. The huge backlog means people are struggling to get a passport in time for their travels.
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Home Office minister Kevin Foster said his advice remains unchanged and anyone heading overseas this summer should submit new passport applications and renewals as soon as possible. But he added in the House of Commons: "We are making a range of efforts - staff are working weekends, incentivised overtime - and certainly we're confident we will not need to change the 10-week target."
Those urgently in need of a new passport can make an appointment to visit their local office to have one issued. There are just seven Passport Customer Service Centres dotted around the UK, one of which is based in Liverpool.
Today, there were long queues at the Old Hall Street office as people desperately tried to get their hands on a new passport. The ECHO spoke to some of those waiting in line.
Sam Neill said she had travelled with her sister-in-law Claire Porter from North Wales who was waiting to get a fast-track passport in time for her holiday next Monday. Sam said was also travelling to London to get new passports for her children for their holiday in June as she was "not taking any chances".
Sam told the ECHO: "I am here with my sister-in-law and she flies on Monday. I am going to London for mine on Thursday for the baby and my daughter so it's the only place I could get an appointment.
"I am actually travelling I have had to get the train down their Thursday."
Sister-in-law Claire added: "We have been here since 11.25am. We are due to fly Monday and we're waiting for my daughter's passport been waiting since February 23. It's a joke. Literally been standing here and can't get through to any one on the phones."
Megan, from St Helens, has booked a hotel in Durham for today in case she is told she has to travel there to get a new passport. She said: "We sent all the documents here, but they have all been moved to Durham and we are due to fly on Friday to Greece. But they have had her [daughter's] passport application for 12 weeks now.
"I have come here today hoping, but I have a hotel booked in Durham tonight in case I have to go to Durham."
Reece, from Preston, said the queues were slow-moving, he said: "We have moved about 50 metres in two-and-half hours." Reece said he has had to come to the passport office after his driving licence and passport were stolen.
He said: "I don't have a passport or driving licence. They got stolen on a train. I can't do it online because I don't have a driving licence and you need a driving licence number. I can't get either basically, so I have to drive here today."
The fast-track service to get a new passport costs £142 for an adult so, with fuel costs, people are spending hundreds to be able to travel. Under post-Brexit travel rules holidaymakers need to have at least three months validity on their passports.
As well as the extra complications ministers have warned Britons that they could face up to a ten-week wait for their new papers.
