UK Passport Renewal Private or Gov Online?

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hello

My ten year passport is up for renewal next year and I am considering doing this all Online rather than travelling back to the UK.

I know there is an online service from the GOV website but not having used it before so I am wary about security and whether my passport is safe sending by post etc.

I see now there is a private online service called UKAbroad.net who can do everything for me from filling appropriate forms, passport cost, courier service etc etc but for a price of about 250 Euro.

I know the passport cost for me would be £85 - £95 plus if I go myself then would need to pay for flight, Hotel etc. which would come to more expense.

Has anyone tried this UK Abroad service and how reliable is it (Not a Scam) or done the normal UK GOV online service?

2
Used the normal online service many times and never had an issue with it.

It is incredibly easy to do everything online, submit it and then send the old passport off to them.

I always send them via registered post and the passport office sends the new one plus the old one back via DHL in separate deliveries.

I see no benefit at all in paying an agency to do it for me.

3
+1

My British wife has used the online service without issues. Adding an agency will add to the amount of time you are without your passport, and make a bigger hole in your pocket.

4
I did it 2 years ago online, it's very easy (even taking a phone selfie for the photo - a tip, stand a couple of meters away from a white wall behind you for a neutral background). After applying online, you send the passport by courier and it's returned to you by courier. No need to pay extra to that company

5
We're a family of five. We've renewed our passports many times using the government website, using the post (registered). There is absolutely no need to use a service.

The new passport is couriered to you.

6

Literally just started my renewal today. Got the digital photo done at Timpson’s while we were in the UK on holiday for a couple of weeks. Did the online stuff on gov.uk this morning so all I need to do now is send off the old passport. Cost £105.86 including the courier charges for the 2 passports being returned. Can track the application online as well.

I’ve never had any problems with sending the old passports by registered post to the relevant Passport Office address and don’t expect any this time either.

7
It’s super easy to do it online yourself. Send your passport to the U.K. tracked and they send it back with a courier. No dramas!

8
We did once. The passport got stuck for fives days in Dover (I think). Contacted Swiss post and they got it sorted out - two days after we raised our query it was at the passport office.

9
I know I can look into it myself and will but as this thread exists...but can people apply for new U.K. passports online too?

10

Yes.

11
Yes you can. It’s super easy too, even the verification of photos can be done online now.

12
My wife just verified the photo of one of the neighbours kids. All online.

13
I was going to get mines renewed in Glasgow on my recent trip back, then I realised with all the other things I had to do as I'd not been to my house for 2 years along with seeing family, I'd never have time to go there. it would have meant not meeting up with my great nephew in Dundee, I'd not seen him since he was 6 weeks old and he's now 23

I still had enough time on my passport for travel, so I did the application online when I got back (OH took a photo for me) and sent the passport back registered post, that was over 2 weeks ago. It went to Durham but there's no notification yet that it's there, I've heard in some cases it's taking 10 weeks plus to get a new one back and I've heard it also depends on whether it gets sent to another office for processing.

14

Website this morning said up to 11 weeks and I’d seen 12 mentioned a few weeks ago elsewhere.

15
That's quite a long time and certainly into the summer holidays. I may have left it too late.

Anyone know how long it is for a Swiss passport instead?

16

https://www.englishforum.ch/permits-...rd-delays.html

17
A Swiss passport is very fast. Probably less than a week.

Some places have a couple of weeks wait for an appointment for the photo and biometrics but once that’s done the passport arrives within a few days.

18
Four weeks for a new one currently.

19
just in case anyone needs it quickly and can get to the UK , I ordered mine online (from here) and picked it up in person 5 days later (in the UK). Expensive but worry and hassle free , £177

20

Old passport sent off this morning; now we see how long it takes to get the new one. CHF10 to send it off registered post btw.