This message...

"We are sorry that it is taking longer than usual to process your application due to COVID-19. If we don’t need any further information to progress your application, you should receive your passport within 8 weeks."

...came 5 minutes after I logged in to check my status online. When you log in you have to give your online application number and email again. Which is why I was not sure if it was an automated email telling me to be patient or an actual confirmation that they got my passport.


If it was really a confirmation of them receiving my passport then why does my status still say "Send your old passport". You understand now?

Today I got the confirmation email and my online tracking status has finally changed to "Your application is being processed"

I got mine about 10 days after getting this email. The delay (certainly in the summer) was having enough people to just open the envelopes!

What do they do with the old passport? Destroy it I hope? If I am ever on a wanted list, I would like them to use the new passport photo and not the old one

They send it back to you with the corner cut off to invalidate it.

You may for example need it if you have visas stamped in it, or to prove entry/exit dates.

(Rare nowadays with everything being electronic, but still).

They posted the old one back, the new one came with DHL

Yes, I realized after looking at my precious important documents metal box that there were old cancelled UK passports in there. Getting old I guess!

Got this email on Friday-

What happens next

Your new passport is being printed. We’ll let you know when in it’s on its way.

We’ll send back your old passport separately. It won’t be in the same envelope as your new passport.

Ok finally got it! Around 5 weeks in total.
The DHL driver looked shattered, as if he had driven all the way from UK! Must be super busy and stressed due to Christmas!

I got one of the final print runs of European Union - British Passports before it was dropped. So I have 8 more years to look longingly at those words.

Mine is due for renewal in a year. I'm kind of glad - I think seeing the words European Union for many years would just make me want to cry.

Hi all


Any British passport renewals lately? are they all now the new Blue passports or still issuing the old stock?
Any comments of timing?



Thanks in advance

seems you can renew on line.. and it is cheaper than paper way.. by a few pounds

read all about it on gov.uk

Travelling to the EU, EEA or Switzerland
On the day of travel to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you’ll need your passport to both:

have at least 6 months left on it
be less than 10 years old (even if it has 6 months or more left)

I guess they mean the passport

We got blue - actually black to any normal person.

Seemed fairly quick, similar to what it was a couple of years ago when I last did it.

Be aware that if you have a child who needs their photo validating, you can do that online but only if the person validating them lives in the UK and has a valid UK postcode.

I'm interested to know if people declare their foreign passports when renewing the British passport? I can't afford to send both my UK and Swiss passports off for 3 months

That is definitely not the case. I have done it for two British friends for their children in the past couple of months and I neither live in the UK nor have a UK postcode. My Swiss address worked just fine.

Is the question do you have multiple UK passports or related to multiple citizenships? I suspect it's the former as it's quite possible to have 2 UK passports if you travel a lot on business.

It's been few years I renewed mine and if I still remember well, I did declare my Swiss nationality...but I didn't have to send my original Swiss passport.

It asked if you have any foreign passports. I remember an Australian who had naturalised as British telling me he had to send both passports in when renewing his UK one.

My son just sent a photocopy of his Swiss one and that was fine.

Same here, scan of the Swiss one was fine.