Fears are growing that the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) will take much longer than usual to process passport renewals after the introduction of tough measures to block fraudulent applications. Under the new regulations, anyone over 16 applying for a first passport must attend an interview and answer up to 200 questions - a procedure expected to clog a system historically inept at coping with change.

An IPS source said that “while we have targets for the time we’re supposed to take to process and send out new passports, nobody here expects us to reach them this year - not by a long chalk”.

So, if you need to renew your passport, here’s what you should do:

1. Check your passport now, and remember that children’s passports expire after just five years, rather than 10. If there are less than nine months left on any passport in your household, you should reapply: many countries require a passport to be valid for at least six months, and you should allow three months for your application.

2. Collect the standard application form at the Post Office, order it online at www.passport.gov.uk or call the IPS on 0870 521 0410. Take care: if it is not completed properly in black ink and in capitals, it will be rejected. Or fill in the form online at www.passport.gov.uk, press send and they’ll post it back to you to add your photographs.

3. Ensure photographs, which must be verified by a professional, meet the stringent IPS criteria, described on the website and application form.

4. If you are unsure, take your form, photos and fee (£66) to a main post office or to a Worldchoice travel agent, and pay £7 for the Check and Send Service, which ensures everything is in order and includes postage to the IPS.

5. If you’ve left it too late, the IPS offers a premium 24-hour service for £108 or a one-week service for £91. Telephone to make an appointment.