Post Office Passport Photos: Where and How to Get Them
Whether you’re going to get a new UK passport or renew an existing one, you’ll also need a set of passport photos that meet the HM Passport Office rules. And if you want to get it right the first time, getting your photos at a post office will be a safe bet.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about obtaining post office passport photos (and offer a cheaper and faster alternative).
Contents
Which Post Offices Do Passport Photos?
Please note: whatever the branch, the passport photo service is available only as part of the Passport Check and Send service, which includes taking the photo, verifying your application and submitting it to HMPO.
As of 2022, there are more than 11,500 branches in the United Kingdom. Given the scale, not every post office has the amenities required to take your passport photos and process your application.
Thankfully, you can easily find a nearby post office that provides the Passport Check and Send service. Here’s how to do that:
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Access the official branch finder at www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder
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In the Where field, enter your postcode, town or street name
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Click on the second field and select the options you need in the Passport Applications section.
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Hit Search to see the list of your nearby post offices that do passport photos and pick the nearest branch.
Whether you live in a city or a rural area, you should find a suitable branch.
How to Get a Passport Photo at a Post Office
The process will vary slightly depending on whether you’ll use Digital or Paper Check and Send service.
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(Paper Only) Fill out the application form (picked up at selected branches).
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Bring your old passport, supporting documents and form (if you have one) to a participating post office and ask the staff to help you.
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The staff will take your photo, check your application and send it off to HMPO.
That’s it! You’ll receive your new passport within the specified time frame.
How Much Are Passport Photos at the Post Office?
It doesn’t matter whether you choose the Digital or Paper Check and Send: in both scenarios, you’ll need to pay £16. This price includes taking your photos and processing your passport application.
Please note that this is payable to the post office
on top of the usual passport application fee!
How to Get the Same Passport Photo Cheaper
In case you’re not sure about the Check and Send service, consider other options.
Take the PhotoBooth Online service, for example–by using it, you can get valid passport photos at home almost instantly! Let’s compare it to the traditional post office passport photo service.
PhotoBooth Online
Post Office
Some Closing Thoughts
While post office services are a tried-and-tested option to handle your UK passport application and pictures, they can also be costly and time-consuming.
Alternatively, PhotoBooth Online provides a quicker money-saving solution, handling the entire passport photo process for you. Plus, it offers store-specific options (say, you can get Boots passport photos online) and works for documents from other countries. At the same time, the services do not include help with your passport application (on the other hand, you may not need one).
So, whether you choose the good old Post Office or the efficiency of PhotoBooth Online you now have more options to get your passport photos. Make your choice wisely, considering your preferences and requirements. Happy travels!