Failing to carry out one check before flying could scupper your holiday plans.
An expert has warned Brits planning a holiday abroad to do one thing or risk having their summer plans ruined. Consumer journalist Alice Beer urged travellers to check their passport in advance.
This includes checking it for any potential damage as well as its expiry date. This needs to be done as soon as possible to allow time for a replacement travel document to arrive.
Speaking on ITV’s This Morning, Alice explained: “If you’re planning on making the most of the school holidays and getting out of here, the minute your kids break up, you have got to do one thing and check your passport. Not just your passport, all the family’s passports and you’re checking for some really key things.”
If your passport is damaged you could get turned away at the airport. HM Passport Office will consider your passport damaged if:
- You cannot read any of your details
- Any of the pages are ripped, cut or missing
- There are holes, cuts or rips in the cover
- The cover is coming away
- There are stains on the pages (for example, ink or water damage)
Alice continued: “One, check they’re not damaged. I saw someone on Instagram whose airline had stuck the luggage tag on the photo page of their passport, when they came to peel it off it damaged it.
“And she didn’t know, is this good to fly, is this not? So she spent a week, she got the fast turnaround passport. Cost her a couple of hundred quid, just in case.”
On top of potential passport damage you need to be looking at its expiration date. Alice said: “So, you’re looking for how many months have I got to run, how many months do I need on my passport to go where I’m going, you’ll find that on the Government website.”
Some countries require that your passport has at least another three or six months left on it by the end of your holiday. Before flying you should therefore check the individual requirements of each country.
However, some countries, including in the EU, don’t accept a passport that is more than 10 years old. “Is my passport, more than 10 years old?” Alice said.
“This keeps coming up, time and time again. If you renewed your passport, and you’ve got a carry over of extra months, you might find your passport is currently more than 10 years old.
“That will not get you entry into some countries and you’ll simply turned down at the gate. So check your passports, check everyone’s passports for damage and for validity.”
A standard passport renewal takes around three weeks. You can apply either online or via the post.
Online passport application
To apply online, visit gov.uk/apply-renew-passport. Key requirements include a digital photograph, a valid payment method (credit or debit card), and the old passport for renewal applications. Additionally, applicants must provide proof of identity and citizenship.
The application fee for adults stands at £94.50, while children’s passports cost £61.50.
For those requiring assistance with the online application, local Post Office branches are available to offer support. Their staff are equipped to:
- Capture your digital photo
- Assist with completing the application online
However, be aware that this service incurs an additional charge.
For postal applications
You can get a paper passport application from a nearby Post Office to apply by post. Keep in mind, applying via post generally takes more time than submitting an application online.
You are required to dispatch a fully completed application form along with your supporting documents, two photographs, and the necessary fee.
Post Office team members can assist in ensuring your form is accurately filled out – though you must supply your own photos. Note that this service will cost you extra. Payments can be made with cash, or through debit or credit card transactions.
Fast-track applications
If three weeks is cutting it too close with your holiday, there are two ways to apply for an urgent passport.
GOV.UK says: “You can pay to get a passport urgently if you think the standard service will take too long.” For both of these options you will need to go to a passport office for an appointment:
- One day premium – This service costs £222 (or £235 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport)
- One week fast track – £178 for an adult passport (or £191 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport), or £145 for a child passport (or £158 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport)
For more information, visit gov.uk/renew-adult-passport.