Long delays in issuing new passports are threatening the holidays of hundreds of families, a weekend report claimed.
It is taking up to six weeks to change or issue passports, double the usual time, due to a boom in demand, the Sun reported on Saturday.
Shadow immigration minister David Hanson, who raised the issue, said MPs had been swamped with complaints from people waiting for passports to be processed.
Labour claimed the problems centre around the Durham passport office.
Newlyweds wanting to change their name or parents applying for a child’s first passport appeared to be most at risk.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Mr Hanson’s investigation shows the Home Office’s passport service is in turmoil.”
The Home Office admitted it had been caught out by a huge leap in applications, according to the newspaper.