Ten-week passport delays to continue until next year

HOLIDAYMAKERS were warned yesterday that the 10-week wait for passports is likely to stretch into next year, with applications expected to surge over the coming months.

Thomas Greig, HM Passport Office director, told MPS more than 500,000 passport applications were outstanding from last month, around 10 per cent of which have been delayed with requests for further information.

Mr Greig told the home affairs select committee officials are working at speed to meet demand with five million documents processed this year, surpassing the total for all of last year. Pending applications had been reduced to around 400,000, he added.

Before April 2021, the expected turnaround was three weeks. Asked if it was possible for the pre-pandemic target to be reinstated by the end of the year, Mr Greig said it was doubtful because of an expected “late demand” this year.

The situation has improved from April, when more than 700,000 people were waiting. Mr Greig predicted that by the end of the summer, wait times would be similar to before Covid.