Holidaymakers have been urged to get their passport applications in earlier than usual - with travellers facing up to a ten week wait.
The Passport Office is expected to see the number of submissions to soar over the coming months as people in the UK catch up on trips abroad.
Workers usually deal with seven million applications, but this plummeted to four million during the height of the pandemic.
Now, they are bracing themselves for a sudden influx of five million applications from 2020 and 2021.
Last month new passports were being turned around in six weeks and renewals in five, but this now looks set to double.
This means that anyone applying for a new passport today may not receive their documents until the end of June.
The Mirror reports that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is also having a significant impact on the service.
One source told the publication: “Man of our staff have been seconded to deal with visas for Ukrainians.
“Processing those is now our top priority so we can get as many as we can to safety.”
Passport Director General Abi Tierney said: “Many people are leaving applying for a passport too late.
“Summer holidays are fast approaching so if you need a new passport we urge you to apply now.
A spokesperson for the Association of British Travel Agents said: “We are encouraging people to renew or apply as early as possible so they have their passport in good time for their trip.”
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