Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the expected increase in passport applications and renewals in 2022 as travel reopens.

Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 5 million people have delayed applying for a passport.

Customer surveys have indicated 2022 will see a relatively strong recovery in international travel, however the continued impacts of the pandemic upon customer behaviour means forecasts for 2022 could be subject to significant change.

HM Passport Office has a range of tried and tested contingency arrangements available to help passport applications to be processed as quickly as possible during the periods of very highest demand, including the flexing of resources from across the Home Office and other government departments.

In addition, since April 2021 passport applicants have been advised to plan to wait up to 10 weeks before they receive their passport. This advice will remain in place until the potential demand for passports returns closer to normal levels.