Holidaymakers have been issued an urgent warning over passports after an 'unprecedented' surge in applications.
This comes after over five million people in the UK delayed in applying for a British Passport between 2020 and 2021 due to the uncertainty the pandemic brought.
However, now international travel has opened again and the passport office has seen a surge of applications and processing times are increasing.
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Currently the Home Office says it can take up to 10 weeks for the application to be processed.
But now the Home Office are warning expectant travellers who need to renew or apply for a new passport to do so 'as soon as possible'.
According to the Independent, Home Office Minister Kevin Foster said that a million applications were received last month alone.
He added: "To put that into context, we usually deal with seven million in a whole year.
“We would advise people this is a very, virtually unprecedented surge in demand, and if people are planning to travel this summer we would advise them to get their application in as soon as possible.”
The Home Office and Priti Patel have been criticised by the opposition.
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw said: “Yet again, the Home Office and Priti Patel have been asleep on the job.
"Anyone could have predicted that after two years of travel restrictions there would be big surge in passport renewals and applications.
"Yet there seems to have been no planning for this, meaning thousands of families who have been looking forward to seeing loved ones again or having a holiday are having those hopes dashed."
How to apply for a passport
You can either apply for a new passport or apply for a renewal.
Apply online to use the standard service.
You can also apply with a paper form from a post office. This costs an extra £9.50.
A standard passport is £75.50 for an adult, and £49 for a child.
How to get a passport faster
There are two ways you can speed up the processing time but you will have to go to an appointment at your closest passport office - There is one at thee Northgate, 96 Milton Street in Glasgow.
Online premium service
You can use the online premium service where the appointment lasts up to 30 minutes and this service is to renew an adult passport. See more here.
To use the Online Premium service you’ll need:
- Your old passport
- A device that takes digital photos (like a smartphone, tablet or digital camera) and someone to take your photo
- A digital photo of you
This costs £177 or £187 for a 50 page frequent traveller passport.
You can only use Online Premium to renew an adult passport that was issued after 31 December 2001.
One week fast track
You will have to take documents to the appointment and your new passport will be sent to you a week after.
You can use this service to:
- Renew an adult or child passport
- Change your name on your passport (for example with a marriage certificate or deed poll)
- Make changes to your personal details on your passport (for example, your gender)
- Replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport
- Apply for a first child passport
This costs £142 for an adult passport (or £152 for a 50 page frequent traveller passport, or £122 for a child passport (or £132 for a 50 page frequent traveller passport).
You can book an appointment here.
If you need a passport urgently due essential reasons
If you need to travel urgently for a passport to medical treatment or or because a friend or family member is seriously ill or has died, call the ‘Passport Adviceline’ instead.
What has your experience been like when applying for a passport? Let us know in the comments.
