Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average waiting time is for receiving a new passport following an application.

In May 2015, the average time taken for the processing and delivery of a passport from the United Kingdom was 5 days. The calculation is based on receipt of a fully and accurately completed application form and includes an estimated two days for delivery from HM Passport Office to the customer but excludes delivery time from the customer to HM Passport Office.

The equivalent figure for overseas applications is 11 days, which includes an estimated 7 days delivery to customers but excludes the time taken for delivery from the customer to HM Passport Office. These figures exclude time awaiting interview.