If you're travelling soon and need a new passport, here's everything you need to know about getting one quickly.
Staff at Merseyside passport office are planning to strike for five weeks from April 3 to May 5, 2023. The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union have confirmed that workers across the UK will walk out over pay, pensions, and redundancy terms, which is likely to have a significant impact on the delivery of passports.
You usually need at least six months left before your passport expires from your date of travel in order to use your passport for a holiday. This depends on where you're travelling to, as different countries will have different rules, so it's worth checking about the immigration rules for your destination and any countries you're stopping over in to see if you need a new passport or not.
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The UK passport service offers a one week fast-track service to renew your passport, change personal details, replace a lost, stolen, or damaged passport, or apply for a first child passport. If you've applied for a new passport with a different service, you can also upgrade your existing application to a fast-track application.
However, during the strike period, and afterwards, it is likely this service will be delayed, so it's best to get an application in as soon as possible if you're hoping to travel this summer. The PCS warned on Friday that the strike action is likely to have a "likely to have a significant impact on the delivery of passports as the summer approaches".
How to apply for a fast-track passport
You cannot apply for a fast-track passport online, you'll have to go to a post-office to pick up an application and fill it in. Once you have your application, you can book an appointment online.
At your appointment, you'll need:
- Two identical printed passport photos
- Your completed paper application form
- Your supporting documents - read the booklet that comes with the paper form to find out what you need
How long does it take to get a fast-track passport?
The service should take one week from your appointment, but this can vary.
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How much does it cost to get a fast-track passport?
It costs:
- £155 for an adult passport (or £166 for a 50 page frequent traveller passport)
- £126 for a child passport (or £137 for a 50 page frequent traveller passport)
You'll pay this fee when you book your appointment online.
You can see the full details on the gov.uk website here.
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