As our passports are due to expire in June, I wasn't at all looking forward to filling out long and complex forms, obtaining photographs from a booth, having them authenticated and then settling down to a long wait to find out if our applications had met the requirements.

When I Googled the rules for passport photographs to see if I could take and print them myself, I was however surprised to see that the whole renewal process can now be done on-line - and very simple and straightforward it is too.

Now, all you have to do is take a digital picture (with a camera, phone or tablet) of your face and upper body and, provided it meets clear guidelines regarding expression, shadows, reflections and head coverings, upload it to the site where it is automatically cropped to the correct size for you. You then answer a short series of simple questions, check that your photo meets the criteria, pay the fee by credit card and submit the application.

You are then asked to post your old passport to the office in Durham quoting the unique reference number provided. Nothing further will happen until they receive it - and that's it. It couldn't be simpler. You will even receive emails or texts from the Passport Office regarding your application's progress. The estimated turnaround time is three weeks.

The only disturbing part of the whole process was comparing my new photo with the one taken 10 years ago. Time can be very cruel.

Here's a link to the relevant web page: On-line Passport Renewal

There was a question early in the process, Islay, asking if you are applying from within the UK so it may be that on-line renewals are only available for UK residents.

Quote: Eribanut wrote in post #8

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Mine runs out next year. The existing one required me to go to the London Passport Office as I needed it for a business trip !

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Well, I have to take my hat off to the Passport Office for providing a most efficient renewal process.

I filled in and uploaded the on-line applications on the Thursday and posted the old passports to Durham on the Friday. On the Monday we were advised that they had been received and that our applications and photographs met the requirements and had been approved.

Mrs Calder's new passport arrived on Friday and mine arrived this morning, despite the snow and freezing conditions last week.

Credit where credit's due, that is a very impressive one week(ish) turnaround when compared with our previous experience of renewals.