Just been announced on BBC / Sky News that more than 1000 passport office staff are planning to go on strike for five weeks in a dispute over pay, which is likely to have a significant impact on the delivery of passports. More than 4,000 people are employed by the Passport Office across the UK, meaning around one in four workers will be walking out. Not great news if need a new passport or renewal in the coming weeks.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union working at passport offices in Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newport, Peterborough and Southport will walk out from 3 April to 5 May. Those in Belfast will strike from 7 April to 5 May.
More info - BBC News
How do I renew my passport?
You can renew your passport online, at a cost of £82.50 (payable by debit or credit card) or by post, at a cost of £93. For a child passport (under 16), the fee is £53.50 for an online application and £64 for a postal one. To apply online, you will need your existing passport and a digital photograph.
To apply by post, you will need to fill out a form which you can get from any post office which has a check and send service, or by calling the Passport Adviceline.
How long does it take to renew a passport?
The Passport Office says you should apply for a new passport 10 weeks before you are due to travel. If you can't wait that long, you can pay extra to get it sooner. There are two services available.
If you need a passport urgently or for medical treatment or because a friend or family member is seriously ill or has died, the government advice is to call the Passport Adviceline .
Sources / related discussions
Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union working at passport offices in Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newport, Peterborough and Southport will walk out from 3 April to 5 May. Those in Belfast will strike from 7 April to 5 May.
More info - BBC News
How do I renew my passport?
You can renew your passport online, at a cost of £82.50 (payable by debit or credit card) or by post, at a cost of £93. For a child passport (under 16), the fee is £53.50 for an online application and £64 for a postal one. To apply online, you will need your existing passport and a digital photograph.
To apply by post, you will need to fill out a form which you can get from any post office which has a check and send service, or by calling the Passport Adviceline.
How long does it take to renew a passport?
The Passport Office says you should apply for a new passport 10 weeks before you are due to travel. If you can't wait that long, you can pay extra to get it sooner. There are two services available.
- A one-week Fast Track service for renewing a passport, replacing a lost or stolen one or applying for a child passport. It costs £155 for an adult passport and £126 for a child passport. You will need to get an application form from a Post Office and book an appointment online.
- An Online Premium service for renewing a passport, at a cost of £193.50. The earliest you can get an appointment (where you will receive your new passport) is two days after applying online.
If you need a passport urgently or for medical treatment or because a friend or family member is seriously ill or has died, the government advice is to call the Passport Adviceline .
Sources / related discussions
Share with Messenger
672 Comments
sorted byUndertaking the scanning, validation, and storage of passport related customer documents. The role will provide on-going guidance and support to our third-party supplier and contribute to the upskilling and development of their document validation skills while processing referrals made to them from supplier document handlers.
Working as a team to support and process the validation of documents in line with HMPO policy and procedures. Working at pace to meet the volume of referrals from the supplier, while maintaining a quality to support the effective examination of digital passport applications by HM Passport Office
5 Weeks strike!?
We would process and make the passports on site, now they are outsourced and not even made in the UK!
Also, the wages were terrible, probably the lowest of all public sector workers and fully support their strike action. (edited)
To renew my daughter's passport, it took 13 days
(the passport arrived on Friday, strike begins today - Monday)
So this is a benchmark for the standard of service immediately before the strike
However, with the 5 week strike, assume that new passport CHILD RENEWALS will be:
5 weeks plus 13 days = approximately 7 weeks
This information may be useful to someone planning their holidays this summer, who would otherwise panic that their passport may not be ready in time.
Good on them I hope the public do realize that not all public sector workers want to work for a pittance .
Selfish public moaners because they feel inconveniened for some weeks ..bah humbug (edited)
I have a very important thing to do in Spain in the early part of May but my passport expires in June I never checked it until today......
I thought it ran out in 2025 like a dummy I am.....
Advice please.....
You need 3 months left so you wouldn't be able to travel....I assume they'd turn you round and send you back but not sure on that.
I believe most individuals don't want to strike however inflation has impacted on everyone. Its now become more expensive to go to work due to local councils introducing parking fees in small villages and then they wonder why shops have closed , fuel prices have not stabilised and remain high and public transport costs are through the roof making it more expensive to work.
Statutory sick pay was introduced by the union-busting Margaret Thatcher.
Safety regulations is less clear because there are so many, dating right back to 1802 (before trade unions were legalised in 1824, although unions did still exist). Unions have had their say in the development of some of the laws, but they have been developed by political parties of all colours because of popularity at the polling booth. To say we wouldn't have them without unions is silly.
Maternity Leave was patchy at best until 1993, when the government brought in legislation to bring the UK in line with EU directives. Paternity leave didn't exist at all until 2003. So we'd have that without unions.
Etc etc...
People live to their income. So when inflation is rampant, why shouldn’t they have a pay rise, just like anybody else?
Problem with jealous ******s, want to drag people backwards instead of everybody moving forwards.
If l was a betting person if this dispute isn't settled l'd expect serious strike action in Border Force over the summer too, particularly in areas where there are "juxtaposed controls" as many of those drafted in to cover can't be deployed there.... (edited)
My son's document received on 28th March, but no any further update info yet (edited)
Printed on 30th, received in post on 1st April.
How old is your son? If it's a child renewal it will naturally take a bit longer. If it's a first passport then expect a few more weeks before you see any progress
Realistically, these folk are trying to make the biggest impact possible and the way to do that is by striking.
I’m certainly no leftie so to speak, but asking for a pay rise to try and cope with 10 percent inflation is not unreasonable at all. These are working people after all. I wish them luck.
I understand the need to strike for better pay 2% offeris an insult in these times
but always at the expense of the general public .
Not sure if I can get any money back if i don't get passport back in time.
This is my first holiday in 7 years saved really hard for it hopefully got mine in before the rush. (edited)
- it means that people can not go on holiday
If its anything like the Council dump, two people do some work and about 8 stand around watching or yabbing?
Or the BBC four times as many crew as an independent?
Oh what a hard life they must have, getting paid to have one screen up for work, and another one up with Netflix on (I know a few people that work from home, lol).
Looking at those jobs and salaries above, now I remember son worked as a document scanner assistant for a year. He picked up useful practical experience around the computer systems and processes which set him up well for later career. Couldn't do that as a supermarket cashier or shelf stacker.
I suspect this 5 week strike is a bluff and it will go back to negotiation. No union has the funds to keep that up. (edited)
You'd end up with G4S rubber stamping a forged diplomatic British passport for Osama Bin Laden.