British Passport application processing timelines (only)

[mvineet]

First UK Adult Passport after Naturalisation. 2 Applicants

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead (Our 2 applications, got different postal address to post. Instructions advised applications together can be sent to any address in a single envelope, so sent to Hemel in 1 envelope)
Application submitted: 15 Nov 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 15 Nov 2024
Identity details received: 15 Nov 2024
Application received: 15 Nov 2024
Documents dispatched: 16 Nov 2024
Documents delivered : 18 Nov 2024
Documents acknowledged: 19 Nov 2024
Application approved: 19 Nov 2024
Passport printed: 20 Nov 2024
Passport dispatched: 20 Nov 2024
Passport received: 21 Nov 2024
Supporting documents received: 21 Nov 2024 (Together with the passport in a separate signed delivery - Paid £5 extra for that)

[zeo2020]

My partner:

Passport for: Adult (First UK Passport after Naturalisation)
Application Type: New
Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemel Hampstead
Application submitted: 13 December 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 13 December 2024
Identity details received: 13 December 2024
Application received: 13 December 2024
Documents dispatched: 15 December 2024 (Sunday, no collection day, Royal Mail 1pm)
Documents delivered : 17 December 2024
Documents acknowledged: 19 December 2024
Application approved: 19 December 2024
Passport printed: 20 December 2024
Passport dispatched: 20 December 2024 (Royal Mail SMS)
Passport received: 21 December 2024
Supporting documents received: 21 December 2024

Passport for: Adult (First UK Passport after Naturalisation)
Application Type: New
Method of application: Online
Passport office: Corby
Application submitted: 13 December 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 13 December 2024
Identity details received: 14 December 2024
Application received: 14 December 2024
Documents dispatched: 15 December 2024 (Sunday, no collection day, Royal Mail 1pm)
Documents delivered : 17 December 2024
Documents acknowledged: 19 December 2024
Application approved: 20 December 2024
Passport printed: 21 December 2024
Passport dispatched: 23 December 2024 (Royal mail SMS)
Passport received: 24 December 2024
Supporting documents received: 21 December 2024 (with my partner's document and passport, no Royal mail sms prior to that)

Note1: On Sundays Royal Mail do not have collection, so worth sending documents on Monday for faster process
Note2: After sending to different locations, I saw on forums that we could send to same location as part of family, if this is true for London based people worth to send Hemel Hempstead as it is closer.
Note3: Subscribing to text/SMS provides you lots of visibility
Note4: We put certificates in plastic folder and then do not bend envelopes with a note in it to send back with do not bend envelopes. My certificate came back within its plastic folder however my partners' plastic folder was not included. They did not use do not bend envelopes. I'm glad no harm made on the naturalisation certificate as they were sent in large letter so no bending.

[cherrytree]

Method of application: Online (Same day as Ceremony)
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead

Application submitted:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 19 Dec 2024 Thursday
Email confirming identity:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 19 Dec 2024 Thursday
Identity details received:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 19 Dec 2024 Thursday
Application received:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 19 Dec 2024 Thursday
Documents dispatched:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 19 Dec 2024 Thursday 5pm (RM Next Day Special Delivery)
Documents delivered :​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 20 Dec 2024 Friday 8am
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ *Weekend*
Documents acknowledged:​ ​ ​ ​ 23 Dec 2024 Monday
Application approved:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ 23 Dec 2024 Monday
Passport printed:​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 24 Dec 2024 Tuesday 4am *A day before Christmas*
Passport dispatched:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​24 Dec 2024 Tuesday 9am (24h Tracked)
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ *25/26 Dec Christmas and Boxing Days*
Passport received:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 27 Dec 2024 (expected) in transit
Supporting docs returned:​ ​ ​ ​​ ​27 Dec 2024 (expected) in transit

Every update has been confirmed by an email notification without delay.

[dsandhar]

Passport for: Adult (First UK Passport after Naturalisation)
Application Type: New
Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead
Application submitted: 1:39pm 10 December 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 1:42pm 10 December 2024
Person not eligible: 1:50pm 10 December 2024
Email sent to another person confirming identity: 2:12pm 10 December 2024
Identity details received: 2:16pm 10 December 2024
Application received: 2:16pm 10 December 2024
Documents dispatched: 2:50pm 10 December 2024
Documents delivered : 7:50am 11 December 2024
Documents acknowledged: 10:40am 16 December 2024
Person not eligible: 11:28am 16 December 2024
Proof of address required: 11:28am 16 December 2024
Email sent to another person confirming identity: 11:11am 17 December 2024
Additional documents dispatched: 12:20pm 17 December 2024
Identity details received: 5:53pm 17 December 2024
Documents delivered: 8:00am 18 December 2024
Application approved: 8:06am 20 December 2024
Passport printed: 10:54pm 20 December 2024
Passport dispatched: 20 December 2024
Passport received: 21 December 2024
Supporting documents received: 21 December 2024

I contacted them through the Webchat on 18th and 19th December, but they said the documents were being uploaded and I had to wait 2-3 days.

I received a text message from Royal Mail on 20th December at around 12pm confirming my documents were due to be delivered on 21st, but the passport printed email was sent way later.

[jadedapprentice]

Passport for: Adult (First UK Passport after Naturalisation)
Application Type: New
Method of application: Online
Passport office: Corby
Application submitted: 13 December 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 13 December 2024
Identity details received: 13 December 2024
Application received: 13 December 2024
Documents dispatched: 13 December 2024
Documents delivered : 16 December 2024
Documents acknowledged: 16 December 2024
Application approved: 17 December 2024
Passport printed: 18 December 2024
Passport dispatched: 18 December 2024
Passport received: 19 December 2024
Supporting documents received: 19 December 2024

Took only 6 days after I applied the same day as my naturalisation ceremony

[emzkhor]

First adult passport after naturalisation

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead
Application submitted: 08/11/2024 2:16pm
Email sent to person confirming identity: 08/11/2024 2:24pm
Identity details received: 08/11/2024 3:31pm
Application received: 08/11/2024 3:31pm
Documents posted: 08/11/2024 6:26pm (Royal Mail Special Guaranteed 1pm)
Documents delivered: 11/11/2024 9:35am
Documents acknowledged: 12/11/2024 9:37pm

*additional steps - see below*

Application approved: 18/11/2024 9:29am
Passport printed: 19/11/2024 3:40am
Passport dispatched: 19/11/2024 9:20am
Passport received: 20/11/2024 12:37pm
Documents returned (passport and certificate): 20/11/2024 12:37pm
Additional documents returned: 06/12/2024


Additional info

14/11/2024 10:24am: Received an email about name order on foreign passport not matching the name on application. Was asked to update name on foreign document.
14/11/2024 10:25am: Rang them to explain that this is the cultural naming convention in my country. Was asked to obtain a deed poll to align application name to foreign passport name and show evidence of foreign passport name in use on bank statement, utility bills, etc. Was not given a satisfactory answer.
14/11/2024 10:38am: Used webchat to try and get a more satisfactory answer but was told the same thing regarding deed poll and showing name in use evidence.
14/11/2024 12:58pm: Used webchat to further reiterate cultural naming convention and also my surname IS my surname regardless of which order the foreign passport displays it. Was told my case was being referred to an examiner.

15/11/2024 2:22pm: Used webchat to ask for an update. Was told someone would ring me back by the end of the day. Never received a call.
15/11/2024 2:37pm: Received an email requesting additional documents: bank statement and utility bill.
15/11/2024 6:46pm: Rang to explain I was expecting a phone call but never received. They said their notes showed they tried to ring but there was no answer (not true as I was watching my phone like a hawk all afternoon!!). I reiterate the cultural naming convention and changing the order of my name would require me to travel to my home country and would be unreasonably expensive. I was told to expect to receive a call in the next 1-2 working days.

16/11/2024 10:11am: Rang again to chase up and see if the examiner had reviewed my case. No further information provided but again reiterated the above. Was told that they’ve added a note to get examiner to ring me.
16/11/2024 10:46am: Additional documents posted via Royal Mail Special Guaranteed 1pm. I sent a letter explaining cultural naming convention and included high commission’s explanation of naming convention. Sent evidence that name change can only be done in person in-country and travel there would incur unreasonable costs due to having to take unpaid leave and expensive return flights. Included documents requested as well as mortgage statement, letter of employment, driving licence, HMRC NI number letter and degree certificate to reiterate I have used this name order since moving to the UK.

18/11/2024 9:33am: Additional documents delivered (4 minutes AFTER approval email, so not sure if my additional documents were needed anyway). No acknowledgement of receipt of additional documents. And no one ever rang me back.

After a very stressful few days, thankfully it was all resolved. Seems like the case needed to go to someone with some common sense because ALL this information on naming conventions for my country is on Knowledge Base.

[Tomatobasil90]

Application Timeline 1st Passport after Citizenship Ceremony

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Online
Location of IPS Office involved: Corby
Application Submitted: 10 December 2024
Third party email to comfirm Identity: 10 December 2024
Identity Details Received: 10 December 2024
Date application received: 10 December 2024
Documents Posted: 10 December 2024
Documents Delivered: 12 December 2024
Documents Acknowledge: 12 December 2024
Application Approved: 13 December 2024
Passport Printed: 13 December 2024
New Passport & Supporting Documents dispatched: 16 December 2024
New Passport & Supporting Documents received: 17 December 2024

Overall Citizenship from Application to Ceremony took 49 days and the passport took 1 week!

[jakino]

First adult passport after Naturalization

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead
Application submitted: 27 Nov 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 27 Nov 2024
Identity details received: 27 Nov 2024
Application received: 27 Nov 2024
Documents posted: 28 Nov 2024 (Royal Mail tracked delivery)
Documents delivered: 29 Nov 2024
Documents acknowledged: 3 Dec 2024
Passport interview required: 4 Dec 2024
Passport interview booked: 5 Dec 2024
Application approved: 5 Dec 2024
Passport printed: 6 Dec 2024
Passport dispatched: 6 Dec 2024
Passport received: 7 Dec 2024
Documents returned: 7 Dec 2024

Just took 10 days even if they asked for a passport interview.

[jakino]

First adult passport after Naturalization

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Corby
Application submitted: 27 Nov 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 27 Nov 2024
Identity details received: 27 Nov 2024
Application received: 27 Nov 2024
Documents posted: 28 Nov 2024 (Royal Mail tracked delivery)
Documents delivered: 29 Nov 2024
Documents acknowledged: 3 Dec 2024
- The email advised I need to send my naturalisation certificate so I immediately called 0300 222 0000 (option 8 then 4) and provided them the Royal mail tracking number where my certificate should have been along with the foreign passports they already got

Application approved: 4 Dec 2024
Passport printed: 5 Dec 2024
Passport dispatched: 5 Dec 2024
Passport received: 6 Dec 2024
Documents returned: 6 Dec 2024

Just took 9 days even if they missed the certificate in the parcel.

[Only_Seaweed07]

First UK Adult Passport after Naturalisation

I had my citizenship ceremony on 28/11 so this was INCREDIBLY quick, maybe record time!

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Corby
Application submitted: 2 December 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 2 December 2024
Identity details received: 2 December 2024
Application received: 2 December 2024
Documents dispatched: 3 December 2024
Documents delivered : 3 December 2024
Documents acknowledged: 3 December 2024
Application approved: 4 December 2024
Passport printed: 4 December 2024
Passport dispatched: 5 December 2024
Passport received: 5 December 2024
Supporting documents received: 5 December 2024

[SA9]

First UK Adult Passport after Naturalisation

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead
Application submitted: 26 Nov 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 26 Nov 2024
Identity details received: 26 Nov 2024
Application received: 26 Nov 2024
Documents dispatched: 27 Nov 2024
Documents delivered : 28 Nov 2024
Documents acknowledged: 03 Dec 2024
Application approved: 03 Dec 2024
Passport printed: 04 Dec 2024
Passport dispatched: 04 Dec 2024
Passport received: 05 Dec 2024
Supporting documents received: 05 Dec 2024

I applied on the very same day I had my citizenship ceremony. So the passport took 1 week and 2 days to arrive from my citizenship ceremony. Good luck to everyone applying!

[cosseeker1]

First UK passport after Naturalisation

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Corby
Application submitted: 19 November 2024
Identity Confirmation received: 19 November 2024
Documents dispatched: 20 November 2024
Documents delivered : 21 November 2024
Documents acknowledged: 26 November 2024
Application approved: 28 November 2024
Passport printed: 29 November 2024
Passport & Documents Dispatched: 29 November 2024
Passport & Documents Received: 30 November 2024

[Alhambra]

First Adult passport after Naturalisation

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead
Application submitted: 21 Nov 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 21 Nov 2024
Identity details received: 21 Nov 2024
Application received: 21 Nov 2024
Documents dispatched: 22 Nov 2024
Documents delivered : 25 Nov 2024
Documents acknowledged: 26 Nov 2024
Application approved: 26 Nov 2024
Passport printed: 27 Nov 2024
Passport dispatched: 27 Nov 2024
Passport received: 28 Nov 2024
Supporting documents received: 28 Nov 2024

(That was much faster than I exected! Wishing you all the same luck!)

[Tralai]

UPDATE

First adult passport after Naturalisation

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead
-Application submitted: 12:16pm 5 November 2024
-Ask someone to confirm your identity: 12:16pm 5 November 2024
-Email sent to person confirming your identity: 12:19pm 5 November 2024
-Identity details received: 12:58pm 5 November 2024
-Application received: 12:58pm 5 November 2024
-Documents sent : (RM Special Delivery) 6 November 2024
-Documents arrived Passport Office : 07:00am 7 November 2024
-Documents received: 8:58am 12 November 2024
-Person not eligible: 8:59am 14 November 2024
-Email sent to person confirming your identity: 9:19am 14 November 2024
-Identity details received: 9:30am 14 November 2024
-Application approved: 9:48am 14 November 2024
-Passport printed: 3:55am 15 November 2024
-Passport delivered: 13:09pm 16 November 2024
-Supporting documents Returned: 21 November 2024

PS. Passport Office didn't use the prepaid Special Delivery envelope that I provided. They just sent it back to me along with my documents.

[CharlotteYorkG]

First Adult passport after Naturalisation

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Corby
Application submitted: 7 Nov 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 7 Nov 2024
Identity details received: 7 Nov 2024
Application received: 7 Nov 2024
Documents dispatched: 8 Nov 2024
Documents delivered : 11 Nov 2024
Documents acknowledged: 15 Nov 2024
More documents requested: 15 Nov 2024
More documents sent: 15 Nov 2024
Application approved: pending
Passport printed: pending
Passport dispatched: pending
Passport received: pending
Supporting documents received:pending

[KCSunshine]

First Adult passport after Naturalisation

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead
Application submitted: 8 Nov 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 8 Nov 2024
Identity details received: 8 Nov 2024
Application received: 8 Nov 2024
Documents dispatched: 10 Nov 2024
Documents delivered : 12 Nov 2024
Documents acknowledged: 14 Nov 2024
Application approved: 15 Nov 2024
Passport printed: 16 Nov 2024
Passport dispatched: 18 Nov 2024
Passport received: 19 Nov 2024
Supporting documents received: 19 Nov 2024

[ABC_321]

First Adult passport after Naturalisation

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Corby
Application submitted: 7 Nov 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 7 Nov 2024
Identity details received: 8 Nov 2024
Application received: 8 Nov 2024
Documents dispatched: 8 Nov 2024
Documents delivered : 11 Nov 2024
Documents acknowledged: 15 Nov 2024
Application approved: 15 Nov 2024
Passport printed: 15 Nov 2024
Passport dispatched: 18 Nov 2024
Passport received: 19 Nov 2024
Supporting documents received: Expected 20 Nov 2024

Thank you very much to this forum, my 10+ years of enquiries are successfully completed (starting with T2 ICTs, Gen, ILR, BC and now the final bit Passport

Best wishes to all, Thank you

[Tralai]

First adult passport after Naturalisation

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead
-Application submitted: 12:16pm 5 November 2024
-Ask someone to confirm your identity: 12:16pm 5 November 2024
-Email sent to person confirming your identity: 12:19pm 5 November 2024
-Identity details received: 12:58pm 5 November 2024
-Application received: 12:58pm 5 November 2024
-Documents sent : (RM Special Delivery) 6 November 2024
-Documents arrived Passport Office : 07:00am 7 November 2024
-Documents received: 8:58am 12 November 2024
-Person not eligible: 8:59am 14 November 2024
-Email sent to person confirming your identity: 9:19am 14 November 2024
-Identity details received: 9:30am 14 November 2024
-Application approved: 9:48am 14 November 2024
-Passport printed: 3:55am 15 November 2024
-Passport delivered: 13:09pm 16 November 2024
-Supporting documents ( waiting)

[frasim]

First Adult passport after Naturalisation

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Corby
Application submitted: 27 October 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 27 October 2024
Identity details received: 28 October 2024
Application received: 28 October 2024
Documents dispatched: 28 October 2024
Documents delivered (RM Special Delivery 1pm): 29 October 2024
Documents acknowledged: 31 October 2024
Additional documents requested (proof of address): 31 October 2024
Additional documents dispatched: 31 October 2024
Additional documents delivered: 1 November 2024
Additional documents acknowledged: N/A
Application approved: 6 November 2024
Passport printed: 7 November 2024
Passport dispatched: 7 November 2024
Passport received: 8 November 2024
Supporting documents received: 9 November 2024

[Robstin2014]

First Adult passport after Naturalisation

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemmel Hempstead
Application submitted: 28 October 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 30 October 2024
Identity details received: 30 October 2024
Application received: 30 October 2024
Documents dispatched: 01 November 2024
Documents delivered (RM Special Delivery 1pm): 02 November 2024
Documents acknowledged: 07 November 2024
Application approved: 07 November 2024
Passport printed: 8 November 2024
Passport dispatched: 8 November 2024
Passport received: 9 November 2024
Supporting documents received: 12 November 2024

[Tasmiao]

First Adult passport after Naturalisation

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Corby
Application submitted: 24 October 2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 24 October 2024
Identity details received: 24 October 2024
Application received: 24 October 2024
Documents dispatched: 24 October 2024
Documents delivered (RM Special Delivery 1pm): 25 October 2024
Documents acknowledged: 29 October 2024
Application approved: 11 November 2024, 5.35 pm
Passport printed: 12 November 2024
Passport dispatched: 12 November 2024
Passport received: 13 November 2024
Supporting documents received: 13 November 2024

FWIW, the tracker didn't update of passport being printed or dispatched in my case, I just got Royal Mail's text saying my passport is received from HMPO.

I was a bit nervous that everyone else got approved within a day or two, but maybe the queue is a bit long. I followed up every week through the webchat. Hope this timeline settles someone's mind if yours didn't get approved immediately like mine does.

Good luck everyone!

[Yesere]

First Uk passport after Naturalisation
Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead
Application submitted:08/11/2024
Identity Confirmation received: 08/11/2024
Documents dispatched:09/11/ 2024
Documents delivered : 11/11/2024
Documents acknowledged: 12/11/2024
Application approved: pending
Passport printed: pending
Passport received: pending

[Yesere]

First Uk passport after Naturalisation
Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead
Application submitted:08/11/2024
Identity Confirmation received: 08/11/2024
Documents dispatched:09/11/ 2024
Documents delivered : 11/11/2024
Documents acknowledged: Pending
Application approved: pending
Passport printed: pending
Passport received: pending

[Dancull]

First adult passport after Naturalisation

Method of application: Online
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead
Application submitted: 22/10/2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 22/10/2024
Identity details received: 22/10/2024
Application received: 22/10/2024
Documents posted: 22/10/2024 (Royal Mail tracked delivery)
Documents delivered: 23/10/2024
Documents acknowledged: 29/10/2024
*30/10/2024 received an email required me to update my foreign passport as I applied in new name through deed poll, resloved it through the web chat on the same day.
Application approved: 31/10/2024
Passport printed: 31/10/2024
Passport dispatched: 1/11/2024
Passport received: 2/11/2024
Documents returned (passport and certificate): 2/11/2024

[verdi]

Method of application: Online for first UK adult passport following naturalisation
Passport office: Hemel Hempstead
Application submitted: 28/10/2024
Email sent to person confirming identity: 28/10/2024
Identity details received: 29/10/2024
Application received: 29/10/2024
Documents posted: 29/10/2024 (Federal Express by noon next day service, just was picked up)
Documents delivered: 30/10/2024
Documents acknowledged: 05/11/2024
Application approved: 05/11/2024
Passport printed: 06/11/2024
Passport dispatched: 06/11/2024
Passport received: 07/11/2024
Documents returned (passport and certificate):07/11/2024

11 days which was remarkably quick! Thanks to all on this board. My immigration journey of two decades is finally over.