I'm still operating on an Irish licence following my retirement from a well known budget carrier.
For comparison I recently sent documentation and logbook to the Irish Aviation Authority to have my FI Rating revalidation to be entered on my licence.
The turnaround time from the UK (having been sent by normal surface mail) to receive a new rating page and logbook back from the IAA was 12 days.
It was posted from UK on the Thursday and a very helpful person called me from the IAA the following Tuesday asking for card details for the required 145 Euros.
If the IAA can do it then why not the CAA?