Passport renewals have been in high demand since the pandemic. Many people didn’t travel for a couple of years, so when everyone was ready again, passport wait times were through the roof – causing delays for many travellers.
If your holiday is coming up and you’re worried you won’t get your passport in time, here’s what you can do.
How long does it take to renew a UK passport?
How to renew passports online and through the post
How much is it to renew a passport?
How to get a passport fast track
What if my passport doesn’t arrive in time?
How long does it take to renew a UK passport?
During the height of the passport delays, holidaymakers were waiting longer than 10 weeks for their passports to be ready.
Now applications are getting back to normal, the government still says the wait time to renew a UK passport is up to 10 weeks.
It’s always worth renewing your existing passport as soon as you can, just in case it takes longer.
If the 10-week passport wait time is too long, the passport fast-track service is worth looking at.
When should I renew my passport?
Always check if your passport is valid before you book your next holiday. It’s just as important as booking flights or a hotel, because if it’s not up to scratch then you won’t be able to go!
You will need to renew your passport if:
- It has expired
- It is over 10 years old
- There is not enough time left on it
Not having enough time left on your passport often catches people out. The number of months left on your passport is an entry requirement of most countries, and it varies from country to country.
Visit the FCDO website and check the entry requirements for your destination. The ‘Passport validity’ section will tell you how many months are needed on your passport to travel.
How to renew a passport online
Renewing online is the quickest, and cheapest, way to get your passport sorted – and it’s very straightforward.
You just need to head to the government’s page for passports, where you’ll find the option to apply for and renew passports online for adults and children.
Keep in mind there are different sections for adults and children because the process works a bit differently.
If you’re renewing your passport online, you just need:
- A digital photo (making sure it’s within the normal guidelines)
- A credit or debit card
- A passport (your expired or soon-to-be expired passport)
How to renew a passport by post
You can also renew your passport by filling out a paper form and sending it to the Passport Office.
Once you’ve completed the form, you need to post it with the correct supporting documents and the fee for your passport.
Find out more about renewing a passport by post here.
How to renew a passport at the Post Office
If you’d prefer, you can also renew your passport at some Post Offices.
They’ll help you complete your application and send it off either digitally (Digital Check & Send) or through the post (Paper Check & Send).
The Post Office charge an extra £16 fee on top of the normal passport application cost, and you need to pay for your own photos if you use Paper Check & Send.
Find out more about renewing a passport through the Post Office here.
How much is it to renew a passport in the UK?
For an adult, it costs £82.50 to replace or renew your passport online. It costs a little more – £93 – if you want to do it through the post.
For children under 16, renewing a passport costs £53.50 online and £64 through the post.
How can I get my passport sooner?
How long does fast track take for a UK passport?
If you need your passport sooner than 10 weeks, and you haven’t already applied for a new one, you can use the fast track service.
The ‘Online Premium’ service costs £193.50 and can only be used to renew adult passports that were issued after 31 December 2001. You’ll get your passport at a 30-minute in-person appointment as soon as two days after you apply.
The 1 week Fast Track service costs £155 for an adult passport and £126 for a child passport. You get a form from the Post Office, apply and pay for an appointment online, and then take your documents to your appointment, where you’ll get your passport. Use it to renew adult and child passports, or apply for a new child passport.
What if my passport doesn’t arrive in time?
If you’ve applied using the standard service and you’re worried that your passport won’t arrive in time for your trip, there are a couple of things you can try.
Call the Passport Adviceline
If you’re travelling in two weeks or less, you can call the Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000. Here, you can track the progress of your passport application and request to ‘upgrade’ your application.
If you’re eligible, the ‘upgrade’ comes at a fee and means you should then get your passport in one week, but there’s no guarantee.
You’ll also need to provide proof that you’re travelling within two weeks, e.g. pre-booked flight tickets.
Need to travel due to an emergency
You can also contact the Passport Adviceline if you need to travel due to an emergency, such as the serious illness of a friend or family member abroad.
What other options are there?
If you can’t afford the cost of the Passport Office’s Fast Track and Premium services or simply can’t get a booking due to the demand, you have two other options. Call the Passport Office directly or speak to your MP to see if they can help.
If you can’t travel because your passport hasn’t arrived in time
If you don’t manage to get your passport in time and you can’t travel, it’s unlikely that you’ll get a refund from your travel provider. You’re also unlikely to be covered by your travel insurance.
Speak to your travel provider(s) to see if there’s anything they can do. They might not be able to provide a refund, but you might be able to change the dates of your trip or offer credit vouchers to rebook.
If you do change the dates of your trip or rebook, don’t forget to update your travel insurance. Here’s more information about how to deal with travel disruption.
Existing Avanti Travel Insurance customers can change their travel dates using My Avanti.
Ready to go?
If your passport is sorted and you’ve booked your next adventure, don’t forget to pack your travel insurance.
You can also read our travel documents checklist to make sure all your paperwork is in order before your trip.
