There are no widespread delays in issuing UK passports right now beyond the standard processing times.
Standard Times
UK passport applications typically take up to 3 weeks for standard service, starting from when HM Passport Office receives your documents. This can extend if more information or an interview is needed, but you’ll be notified within 3 weeks.
Recent Reports
Some sources note average waits of 7-10 working days for online renewals and up to 3-6 weeks in 2026 for certain types like first-time or overseas applications, with improvements from past years. Isolated complaints exist, such as postal delays in early February 2026 for applicants abroad, but no systemic issues are confirmed by official channels.
Recommendations
Apply online for faster processing (£12.50 cheaper than post) and avoid booking travel until you receive it. For urgency, use 1-week Fast Track or same-day Premium services.
Tempest in a tea-pot (English Breakfast) methinks.
Main problem for many of these people though is that they’re already on holiday abroad or about to go on holiday abroad and won’t be able to get back into the country even though they have British nationality.
How on earth will that happen, as far as my understanding goes they cant just leave you stranded on the border high and dry.
People have a home, family, jobs.
It’s not like it’s been dropped on them out of the blue though, it’s been in all the papers for weeks. They had plenty of time to plan ahead and get everything in order before the new ruling came in.
I very much doubt that there are hordes of dual uk nationals living in Britain who don’t have a British passport let alone ones who just happen to have gone on holiday right now.
The new ruling will primarily affect dual nationals living abroad who don’t have or didn’t renew their UK passport. Lots of people never bothered getting uk passports for their dual nationality children for example.
There appears to be continual problems with UK passports. We keep hearing in the (gutter) press of poor Brits who have longer than 10 year validities of their passports and that nobody told them! Now this.
You would have thought UK dual-nationals would be a little more travel-savvy than the average Brit.
The dual national trap was highlighted on this thread back in April.
Well one example is that the person is in Australia and doesn’t have a UK passport so has to fly to Paris to do the biometric thing. Fly back to Australia, wait for the passport, then fly to the UK once he has the passport.
Airlines, ferries, etc, aren’t going to accept you if you don’t meet the requirements so yes, you’re going to be stranded. They’re not going to allow you to board because they will then probably have to fly you back to where you came from and it costs them money.
@Bowlie “Dual nationals cannot apply for an ETA and must meet the new documentation requirements instead, with checks now carried out by airlines when departing en route back to the UK.”
From the article I linked above.
And I suspect many dual nationals who come from the EU may not have bothered with getting a British passport since their EU one was fine when we were still in the EU.
They could lie on the form though and get the ETA without disclosing their dual nationality status. I know of people who have done this but I wouldn’t recommend it personally.
Why did they make things so unnecessarily complicated and expensive?
They could have got the passport in Australia and saved themselves a whole load of hassle and expense.
Yeah it’s def not a thing. No biometrics taken for a UK passport anyway - but also no way you’d have to fly to Paris, I’ve heard of many Aussies applying from Australia.
They are biometric passports, but you don’t have your fingerprints taken like in Switzerland and you take the digital photo yourself at home. The authorities take no biometrics from you in person, it’s purely an online application (unless you apply for your first as an adult then you have to have an in person interview I believe).