Baby/Child 1st passport - how long did yours take?

[Ginster]

Hi all,

I wanted to get an idea of possible turnaround time for this application - it got sent off on Friday. I keep hearing 6 weeks which seems quite long, I know mine sent off this time last year (name change so effectively new passport) didn't take that long.

How long did yours take?

We don't know if we can book a holiday or not (to get good price/availability) for 6-7 weeks time without the risk of not having the passport arrive in time! Not sure we can smuggle a 3 month old on in hand luggage!

Thanks

Ginster

[Dodie]

Hi... I did ours in about November last year and I think it took about 3 weeks. They do lots of verification checks (e.g. sent copy of picture to the person who signed off the photos for re-verification). I seem to remember that you could pay more money and go in person to a specified office (somewhere north of London, as I recall) and get it done in about a week after your interview with them.

[j-mo]

Mine was about 3 wks too including them writing to say I had forgotten to include the birth certificate (duh).

We also had them verify the witness too.

[Scribble]

Two weeks for us, recently, and not aware of any checks...

[colababe]

I did mine at the beginning of October was going to France for the day on the 15th, I ordered it on the 10th and it came intime, I think it was just off peak and the post office checked the form with me (opposite brockwell park they're amazing in costcutter) cost normal rate also! 5 days!

[chloe11]

We had a nightmare and ended up going to Peterborough to collect my sons passport as they wrote to the counter signature whilst he was on holiday so make sure the person who countersigns the application is going to be around for the next few weeks to reply to any verification letters!

[srisky]

3 weeks in July, i.e peak season, but no checks were done as far as I know.

ETA: I recommend using the check & send service at the post office esp. if the timings are tight. It costs about ?8.

[Ginster]

Thanks all. Got a txt today to say application received so that is good. Verification person not going on holiday and we used Post Office check and send, so fingers crossed we're looking at 2-3 weeks!

[Strawbs]

3 weeks for us and no checks (we did use the check and send service)..

[colababe]

I got the check and send also, they said 2-3 weeks to me too but took 5 days so hopefully comes before!

[Ellie78]

Check and send and took a week, did it September

[newtoedf]

My daughter's took a while recently as the counter signatory didn't see the first letter from the passport office asking for verification so they had to write again. I'd recommend gently double checking with the counter signatory just in case!

Also - remember to renew it when the child turns 5! I forgot they only last 5 years which meant a major change of plans. I know a few others who have too!

[Ginster]

Wow! I am amazed to report we just got home to find the passport on the mat!

Which means it arrived on Saturday, therefore it took 1 week!

Thanks for all the feedback, it made me confident it would arrive in time just not this soon!! ;)