Sulla wrote: ↑Sun May 05, 2019 12:10 pm
Having read
Tomriddle's post above and checking the Embassy website in the UK, it does seem like using Passport Express from the UK is not viable for 1st time applicants - or it may just amount to a fast postal service rather than any form of real processing expedition. From previous reading of other's posts, I had formed the impression that the express service had worked out well for applicants from the UK. I guess the experience of
Brawn and others will give us a definitive answer.
I used the Glasgow Passport Express Service, and I received my passport in around 15 working days following submitting my application.
I received my passport on 27th April, after only submitting my application in early April.
For passport processing times, (excluding delivery time) there is a bit of variation depending on where you apply from. I have put together (in no particular order) a selection of estimated processing times relevant to 1st time applicants abroad:
UK: 13 weeks minimum (65 working days)
China: 6-8 weeks (this used to be 6 when I applied, went up to 8 briefly and is now in a range)
Thailand: Not stated, but likely to be similar to or worse than Malaysia/Spain due to expat population.
Sweden: 6 weeks
Finland: 6 weeks
Switzerland: 6 weeks
Turkey: 5 weeks
USA : 8 weeks
New Zealand: 10-12 weeks
Australia: Not stated, but likely to be similar to NZ or Canada.
Canada: 12 weeks
Malta: 4-6 weeks
Singapore: 6-8 weeks
Malaysia: 6-8 weeks
India: 4-6 weeks
Spain: 8-9 weeks
South Africa: 8 weeks
So, it seems the Maltese and Indian applicants may be faring best, although potentially Turkey could also be quickest. Of course, whether actual processing times conform to these estimates is another matter. They are updated fairly regularly though.