37100

Yes, I agree. You have to wade through pages of instructions to find it in the counter signitory's intructions. It should be made clearer. I've included the link for others in the same situation.
https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications

No idea about Canada. I'm in Italy came by DHL the day after it appeared as in delivery.

Vexcore

That whole countersignatory thing is bollocks, it says 'IT MUST BE SOMEONE' WITH uk/eu passports... utter lies that,

Some people here used NONE EU people to countersignatory there applications and they got there passport.

I my self used a chinese national for my sons who i've known for 2+ years.

37100

There must be some leeway for people in countries like China. Finding a signatory in Italy isn't as easy as you might think. I don't know any British/Commonwealth citizens worthy enough. Plenty of Italians, but most Italian don't have a passport. They don't need one as they can travel in Europe and a few other places on their ID cards.

tuckersworld

I'm beginning to think that they intentionally keep the verbiage about countersignatures ambiguous...I was literally like, a monkey looking at a math problem when I did my online straightforward renewal. I ended up asking a very good friend with a PhD to look it over, and give me his opinion...he said nope...doesn't look like you need it. ~fingers crossed his high level of education is everything it's cracked up to be~ lol

CDNtoUK

They used DHL when we received ours last November. It took about a day, maybe 2 at the most.

AndrewInBradfordCanada

I haven't been able to log onto the website to track my passport as somehow I've been locked out but I have received an email form the UK passport saying my passport has been sent for printing on April 16th and should receive within 7-10 days. I'm sure that timeframe is just a standard delivery schedule.

I've also read on a few occasions that DHL will contact you ahead of time to say there will be a delivery

Is this correct?

I am supposed to be leaving for vacation on Friday the 25th(don't need the UK passport) and I don't want it to be delivered twice and sent back. There will be my step son home, will he be able to sign for it or have it redirected to our office where he works.

CDNtoUK

We weren't contacted ahead of time when we received them in November in B.C.

9810rachel

I am having a nightmare dealing with the passport office and their computer says no attitude. It would seem they hold no duty to any customer care and it is just dealing with robots.
I stupidly sent my passport from Europe believing 7 weeks turn around would be enough, it would seem I was wrong. firstly on signing for it they never updates their system and when i called them they at first couldn't even find the application. On further holding they went away and confirmed they had it, yet I had to wait till the following week for the system to show updated. I called as we had reached the 4 week stage only to be told it was four weeks tomorrow and the computer would not allow them to help me, call back tomorrow. On calling back the next day I was told well in fact there was a bank holiday so really it is not four weeks I should call back the next day, by this time I refused to get of the line until they looked. I got put through to another department who informed they had no information and would organize a call back in 72 hours (from what I understand from the other threads these call backs do not come) I have also tried emailing only to have all my questions not answered (after answering all the ID questions) and a standard line they must copy from their hand book for emails.
Frustrated is not the word, Im 6 months pregnant and this is my last chance to travel and its helpless, why do some people get their passport back in under 3 weeks and others they just delay? irrational thought but it really feels like they want to cause misery!
anyone have any advise or anyone else put their passport in end of March with better service?

37100

Rachel, I don't know where you are in Europe. I'm in Italy. My application, delivered to Durham on the 4th of Feb, took 9 weeks. The last time I spoke to a processing officer he told me that they had a long, long queue.

9810rachel

Hi,

Thanks for your feedback, doesn't sound promising for me then I'm in Finland and I believe mine has gone to the Liverpool office and shows no sign of returning.. looks like I will be losing my flights. My fault for booking but still the service leaves a lot to be desired.

JAJ

Presumably you're not also a Finnish citizen, if you were, you could use a Finnish passport or ID card to travel to the U.K.

Otherwise perhaps consider an Emergency Travel Document, especially if you are simply trying to renew a British passport:
https://www.gov.uk/government/world/...bassy-helsinki

9810rachel

Thanks JAJ,

already looked at this but being 1000km away from helsinki by the time i get there and pay for the new document its cheaper i lose my flight already booked.. but thank you anyway!

JAJ

If you're permanently settled in Finland for a number of years, have you considered taking out Finnish citizenship? It won't help you this time, but would mean that you would not be dependent on British passport services going forward.

windsong

I have to renew my UK passport, too. It expired over 10 years ago so I expect it will take a little longer than usual to get it back (US). I researched this six months ago and, as I recall, it was a miniature nightmare! Does anyone have the link where I can download the application? I think there is a special link if you live outside the UK. I can't find it!

tuckersworld

Renewal from US is relatively straight forward and simple...
https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports