# How long does a UK passport renewal take? Source: https://www.roamlytravel.com/guides/passport-renewal-timescales Publisher: Roamly Travel Last reviewed: 2026-10-30 Audience: Universities, Schools, Sports teams, Production crews, Event organisers, Corporate groups ## Short answer HM Passport Office says you will usually get a standard UK passport within 3 weeks of it receiving your documents, but it can take longer if more information is needed. Urgent options exist: 1 Week Fast Track and, for adult renewals only, 1 Day Premium. For a group trip, set a renewal deadline for families and staff at least 2 to 3 months before departure so problems can be fixed in time. ## Key takeaways - Standard UK passport applications usually take up to 3 weeks from when HM Passport Office receives your documents, and can take longer. - 1 Week Fast Track costs £192 for an adult and £156.50 for a child passport. 1 Day Premium is for adult renewals only and costs £239.50. First-time adult applicants cannot use either. - A new passport has a new number, so airline details, ESTA and UK ETA applications must be updated and EES registration is repeated. - Child passports last 5 years, so expiry is the test that usually catches families out. - Ask families to renew at least 2 to 3 months before departure. Do not book travel on a passport that is being renewed. ## How long does a standard passport renewal take? The HM Passport Office service page says: "You'll usually get your passport within 3 weeks." The clock starts when it receives your documents, not when you click submit. It may take longer if more information is needed or an interview is required, and you will be told within the first 3 weeks if so. Applications from overseas have different, longer turnaround times. Treat 3 weeks as the usual case, not a promise. For group trips, a late passport means a traveller who cannot fly, so plan with a much longer buffer than the minimum. GOV.UK also advises that you should not book travel until you have a valid passport, because the new passport will not have the same number as the old one. ## What are the faster options and what do they cost? *UK passport fees and timings (GOV.UK, checked 30 October 2026)* | Service | Timing | Cost | Who can use it | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Standard (online) | Usually within 3 weeks | £102 adult, £66.50 child | All UK applicants | | Standard (paper) | Usually within 3 weeks | £115.50 adult, £80 child | All UK applicants | | 1 Week Fast Track | Earliest appointment the next day. Passport couriered 1 week after the appointment. | £192 adult, £156.50 child | Renewals, changes of details, lost or stolen replacements and child passports | | 1 Day Premium | Earliest appointment 2 days after applying. Ready to collect 4 hours after the appointment. | £239.50 adult | Adult renewals only | The 54-page frequent traveller passport costs £14 more online than the standard 34-page version. Appointments for the urgent services can be booked up to 3 weeks ahead and last up to 10 minutes. First adult passport applicants cannot use the urgent services, and neither can applicants outside the UK, who should look at an emergency travel document instead (see lost passport abroad). Do not pay for urgent processing while a previous application is pending, as it will not speed it up and each extra application incurs a £34.50 admin fee. > **Urgent services are a rescue, not a plan** > Fast Track and Premium cost roughly double the standard fee per person. For a group of 30, that is a significant unplanned cost and still needs an appointment slot for every traveller. Use them for the odd late problem, not as the schedule. ## How do child passports differ? A child passport (under 16) is valid for 5 years and costs £66.50 online or £80 by paper. Someone with parental responsibility must apply, and both parents' details are required unless there is an explanation, such as being the only parent on the birth certificate. Children over 16, or turning 16 within 3 weeks, follow the adult process. The 5-year validity matters for group trips. A child's passport can be valid on the day it was issued but too close to expiry for a destination that requires 3 months' validity beyond departure. For a school group, check every child's expiry date individually. ## What validity does the passport need for the destination? Passport validity is set by the destination. For the Schengen area, GOV.UK says a British passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the date you arrive and must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave. For the USA, the passport must be valid for the length of your stay. Transit countries often require at least 6 months' validity, so check every country on the route. Our [passport and visa checklist](https://www.roamlytravel.com/guides/passport-visa-checklist-group-travel) sets out the Schengen tests with worked examples, including the passports renewed before 2018 that fail the issue-date rule even though they look valid. ## What should group organisers do about renewal deadlines? - **Check validity at sign-up,** not at final payment. Ask for a scan of the passport photo page and record issue and expiry dates. - **Set a family deadline at least 2 to 3 months before departure.** That leaves room for the standard 3 weeks, a query from HM Passport Office, and an urgent service as a fallback. - **Tell families not to book other travel on the old passport** and to wait for the new one. - **Update the new passport number everywhere.** Airline passenger details, ESTA, UK ETA for incoming visitors, and any visa applications are linked to the passport. EES registration is repeated for a new passport, according to the Port of Dover. - **Name changes need care.** If a traveller's name has changed, the booking, the passport and any authorisations must match. A single register of passport numbers, issue dates and expiry dates makes these checks quick. The free [travel document checklist](https://www.roamlytravel.com/travel-document-checklist) and [trip timeline builder](https://www.roamlytravel.com/trip-timeline-builder) help set the deadlines backwards from departure. ## How Roamly can help Roamly Travel builds passport deadlines into group trip timelines so families are chased early rather than at the airport. Our free [trip timeline builder](https://www.roamlytravel.com/trip-timeline-builder) sets renewal and authorisation deadlines backwards from departure, our [logistics service](https://www.roamlytravel.com/services/logistics) covers document checks for larger groups, and you can [contact us](https://www.roamlytravel.com/contact) about a specific trip. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I renew a passport in a week? Yes, if eligible. The 1 Week Fast Track service has the earliest appointment the next day, with the passport couriered 1 week after the appointment. It costs £192 for an adult and £156.50 for a child. First-time adult applicants cannot use it. ### Is there a same-day passport service? Not quite same day. The 1 Day Premium service has the earliest appointment 2 days after you apply, and the new passport is ready to collect 4 hours after the appointment. It is for adult renewals only and costs £239.50. ### How early should a group ask families to renew? The practical deadline is at least 2 to 3 months before departure. That leaves time for the usual 3 weeks, any query from HM Passport Office and an urgent service if something goes wrong. ### Does a new passport mean new authorisations? Yes. The new passport has a new number, so airline details need updating and any authorisation linked to the old passport, such as an ESTA, must be reapplied for. See our guide to ESTA for groups. ### How long is a child's passport valid? 5 years. Check expiry carefully, because the validity can be too short for a destination that needs 3 months beyond departure. ## Sources - [GOV.UK: HM Passport Office, about our services](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-passport-office/about/about-our-services) - [GOV.UK: passport fees](https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees) - [GOV.UK: get a passport urgently](https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently) - [GOV.UK: online premium and fast track service](https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently/online-premium-service) - [GOV.UK: get a child passport](https://www.gov.uk/get-a-child-passport) - [GOV.UK: renew or replace your adult passport](https://www.gov.uk/renew-adult-passport) - [GOV.UK: travel to the EU and Schengen area](https://www.gov.uk/travel-to-eu-schengen-area)