Passport renewal

[mc2fool]

London HM Passport Office,
Globe House, 89 Eccleston Square,
London,
SW1V 1PN

https://www.gov.uk/find-regional-passport-office

Unfortunately, that address is for personal interviews only. None of the other replies show an address so it remains elusive and top secret.

My previous post:

https://www.gov.uk/passport-advice-line

Shows:

Her Majesty's Passport Office
PO Box 767
Southport
PR8 9PW

However, the real point of my posting that link was that, by the variety of ways listed in that page, you can ask the people that actually know for sure!

[Arizona11]

Finally managed to get a photo of my wife accepted by the Passport Office website. I put a white sheet over the fence as a background and being outside, the lighting was pretty good. I took the photo with my digital camera as I was having no luck with my iPhone. Seems to work better.

Anyway, after filling in the rest of the questions on the website, the final page shows the address to send it to and the reference of the application. It is possible that the address changes depending on the demand and may direct you to a different office if they are less busy, I don’t know?

Thanks for all the replies.

[Arizona11]

London HM Passport Office,
Globe House, 89 Eccleston Square,
London,
SW1V 1PN

https://www.gov.uk/find-regional-passport-office

Unfortunately, that address is for personal interviews only. None of the other replies show an address so it remains elusive and top secret.

My previous post:

https://www.gov.uk/passport-advice-line

Shows:

Her Majesty's Passport Office
PO Box 767
Southport
PR8 9PW

However, the real point of my posting that link was that, by the variety of ways listed in that page, you can ask the people that actually know for sure!

Thanks for the link. When I finally managed to get the photo accepted and completed the application, it gave the address of the office to send it to in Peterborough, so even the official website has an unreliable address.

[Mike88]

Not directly related to the question but why does the Passport Office return old passports?

[tjh290633]

Finally managed to get a photo of my wife accepted by the Passport Office website. I put a white sheet over the fence as a background and being outside, the lighting was pretty good. I took the photo with my digital camera as I was having no luck with my iPhone. Seems to work better.

Anyway, after filling in the rest of the questions on the website, the final page shows the address to send it to and the reference of the application. It is possible that the address changes depending on the demand and may direct you to a different office if they are less busy, I don’t know?

Thanks for all the replies.

My passport had to be sent to Durham, my wife's to Bootle. Time was when it was only Newport, Gwent.

TJH

[didds]

Not directly related to the question but why does the Passport Office return old passports?

saves them disposing of them?

i always presumed its becasue people have a sentimental attchment to them maybe - my early adult passports are full of stamps and visas to a plethora of places from my 4 years backpacking.

I doubt Ive had a stamped passport since 1993 aside from a single trip to the USA in 2000!

didds

[swill453]

Not directly related to the question but why does the Passport Office return old passports?

The old US visa you used to get stamped in your passport lasted indefinitely. So If you had to renew your passport you also carried the old, cancelled one for the visa.

Scott.

[Sunnypad]

Rather than start a new thread
I used the photo booth to do the application today

The gov system expressed concern there wasn't enough contrast in the photo, which is funny given the white background and brown skin...and black hair...

It asked if I wanted to use the photo anyway and I said yes and said it had been taken as approved ID.

Anyone else had this?

I guess if the photo isn't okay, they will tell me and I'll have to get money back from the photo booth company.

It wouldn't accept a selfie at all.

[Dod101]

Not directly related to the question but why does the Passport Office return old passports?

saves them disposing of them?

i always presumed its becasue people have a sentimental attchment to them maybe - my early adult passports are full of stamps and visas to a plethora of places from my 4 years backpacking.

I doubt Ive had a stamped passport since 1993 aside from a single trip to the USA in 2000!

didds

Passports are still stamped in Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. No doubt a lot of other places as well. Also for the US and maybe Canada although I have not been there for a while. I have an indefinite visa for the US i an old passport but I do not bother with it these days.

Dod

[BigB]

Rather than start a new thread
I used the photo booth to do the application today

The gov system expressed concern there wasn't enough contrast in the photo, which is funny given the white background and brown skin...and black hair...

It asked if I wanted to use the photo anyway and I said yes and said it had been taken as approved ID.

Anyone else had this?

I guess if the photo isn't okay, they will tell me and I'll have to get money back from the photo booth company.

It wouldn't accept a selfie at all.

I had something like this for a digital photo attached to an Irish passport application. A second photo with subtle but slightly different colour/contrast then passed the online analysis tool to approve the photo.

[pje16]

photo acceptance is a bit hit and miss - see what happened to me here
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30827#p435601

[didds]

i always presumed its becasue people have a sentimental attchment to them maybe - my early adult passports are full of stamps and visas to a plethora of places from my 4 years backpacking.

I doubt Ive had a stamped passport since 1993 aside from a single trip to the USA in 2000!

didds

Passports are still stamped in Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. No doubt a lot of other places as well. Also for the US and maybe Canada although I have not been there for a while. I have an indefinite visa for the US i an old passport but I do not bother with it these days.

Dod

I ommitted to say that is purely because ive only travelled within the EU since 1993 - aside from that US visit.

didds

[BBLSP1]

Not sure about others, but my (UK) passport number changes with each issue. So if, for example, your yellow fever certificate is linked to the previous passport number then the old passport may be needed, although in my experience of travelling around Africa the certificate is rarely asked for.

However, and much more topically, my as of today COVID certificate (I'm currently in Rwanda) is also linked to my UK passport number, which has about 4 years left to run.

[Sunnypad]

photo acceptance is a bit hit and miss - see what happened to me here
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30827#p435601

Thanks
I've now had an email telling me to post the old passport so whether that means the photo is okay, I don't know, maybe.

[pje16]

No don't worry, it has nothing to do with the photo, you always have to send it in, so they can cancel it
You do get it back though

[tjh290633]

photo acceptance is a bit hit and miss - see what happened to me here
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30827#p435601

Thanks
I've now had an email telling me to post the old passport so whether that means the photo is okay, I don't know, maybe.

They don't start processing your new passport until they have the old one. You will get an Email when they receive it

We’ve received your old passport.
What happens next

We’ll check your application and your old passport. We’ll contact you if we need more information.

Then another Email:

Your passport application has been approved.
What happens next

Your new passport is being printed. We’ll let you know when 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.

Those came to me on the same day at the same time. The next one says:

Your new passport is on its way.
What happens next

We’ve sent your new passport by secure delivery. In most cases it will be delivered by TNT delivery services. Find out more at:
https://www.tnt.com/campaign/en_gb/hmpo.html where you can track delivery using your application reference:

And finally a reminder to sign your new passport.

TJH

[pje16]

Not directly related to the question but why does the Passport Office return old passports?

I guess that many people like to get it back as a record of the destinations they have visited.
Can't think why else