New statistics from the HM Passport Office have shown the busiest and least busiest times for applications – and Brits are being urged to get ahead of the curve
Holidaymakers are being given the heads up to renew their passports over Christmas, leveraging what new stats have revealed as the quietest period for applications. According to fresh figures from the HM Passport Office, would-be travellers might want to take note that with March 17th last year pinpointed as the peak day for submissions, the busiest times tended to be at the start of the year.
Those seeking a stress-free passport renewal should consider doing it on Christmas Day, Christmas Eve or Boxing Day, traditionally the calm before the storm. Yet, Brits mustn’t drop the ball on post-Brexit rules which, as many have discovered to their dismay, insist on passports being valid for more than three months and adhere to a new 10-year issuance limit. Mario Van Poppel, the founder of currency specialist Leftover Currency who gathered this information through a Freedom of Information request, suggests these insights could save travellers a world of hassle.
He emphasises: “The thought of booking a trip and then realising your passport has run out is a nightmare for most. But it is something that has caught out many people over the years.”
He also points out, “With new rules in place, the importance of getting your passport renewal sorted sooner rather than later has never been more important. Unlike getting some last-minute foreign currency, getting a new passport days or even hours ahead of reaching the departure gate is simply not possible.”
The latest figures tell us that the Home Office received more passport applications on March 17 last year than any other day since early 2022. The top-five list includes dates such as February 1, January 31, and March 18 for the year 2023, along with January 30 of the same year.
The rest of the top 10 is rounded out by January 29, 2023, March 20, April 10 of this current year, and looking back to 2022, May 1, and April 27. Mario remarked: “While it is not always possible to predict the exact date your renewal will be dealt with, there are patterns in this data that show the first three months of the year are definitely the busiest.”
Post-Brexit travel rules mean UK citizens must have a passport that was issued within the last 10 years and remains valid for at least three months after their intended return date when visiting single market countries.
For passports issued post-2018, they are valid exactly 10 years; earlier ones could extend up to 10 years and nine months because of the older regulations in place then. As per the HMPO’s guidance: “You can technically renew your passport at any time. It is generally advised to renew your passport around nine months before your current passport expires. This accounts for possible delays or complications. It also gives you peace of mind regarding the six or three-month travel rule that applies to many countries.”