UK passport holders are being urged to check their documents ahead of the summer, as the Home Office has warned renewals could be delayed due to a backlog caused by the Covid pandemic.
It's estimated that millions of UK travellers have delayed their passport applications in 2020 and 2021 because travel restrictions meant that Brits weren't heading abroad. Delays could take up to 10 weeks, prompting Brits to rush to get their documents renewed - and even causing the passport office website to crash.
However, it's not just your expiry date that comes into play when it comes to countries' entry requirements. The validity can be dependent on factors including your issue date, and when it expires even after your holiday is over.
Sign up to the Mirror's travel newsletter for more holiday tips, updates and news.
New rules post-Brexit could mean that you're left unable to board your flight if you don't meet certain criteria.
In fact, one family of four was left £3,000 out of pocket when they unwittingly fell foul of the rule and therefore were denied boarding for their flight to Portugal.
With summer holidays fast approaching, and countries welcoming back UK holidaymakers, there are some key factors that you should check on your passport before planning a trip (or if you've booked a trip, worth checking to give yourself a buffer if you do need to get your document renewed).
The expiry date
It may sound obvious, but your passport's expiry date is key.
The Home Office has estimated that over five million people delayed their passport renewals in 2020 and 2021, as travel was largely off the cards (including a ban on foreign travel during peak lockdowns).
In the excitement of finally getting to head abroad again, it's easy to forget to check your documents are still valid, so make sure to check your passport's expiry date.
It's also worth noting that the expiry date needs to be valid after you've travelled too. The majority of countries usually require your passport to be valid for at least three months following the date you leave the country, including holiday hotspots like Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Cyprus and Greece.
The best place to check exact requirements is on the Foreign Office's travel advice for a destination - you can check this on gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
The date of issue
A large number of EU countries in the Schengen Area require your passport to be no more than 10 years old from the point of issue.
However, when you take into account that your passport also needs to be valid at least three to six months after travel, you need to ensure you meet both sets of criteria to visit a country.
For example, Portugal requires your passport to be valid three months after travel, so your passport will need to have been issued nine years and nine months before your travel date.
Previously, UK passports were issued and essentially allowed for this buffer, but following the UK's exit from the EU, this doesn't apply in the same way.
Again the best place to check exact requirements for your destination is on gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, but it's also worth speaking to your airline or tour operator if you're unsure.
Check your passport for damage
A damaged passport could be deemed as invalid by border control on either side of your journey, so it's important to keep this document in a safe place. Still, accidents happen - and if your passport is damaged, you'll need to apply for a new one.
There are various factors which could mean a passport is deemed to be invalid. For example, if your personal details are unreadable, if there are any pages which are ripped or missing, or if the pages have been damaged by water. Any unexpected markings or writings could also mean your passport isn't deemed suitable.
You can find out more about renewing a damaged passport on the website here - gov.uk/renew-adult-passport/replace.
Use the Foreign Office advice checklist
The Foreign Office has issued a specific pre-travel checklist for Brits to use as guidance before holidays, and this includes key information on passports and visas.
As part of its advice it suggests:
- "Take a photo or photocopy of the information page of your passport (the page with your photo, personal details and passport number) and store it securely, so you can access it if your valuables/phone are lost or stolen."
- "Sign your passport on the page opposite your information page. An unsigned passport is not valid."
- "Fill in your emergency contact details in the back of your passport."
You can find out more on gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-checklist.
