Post Brexit passport rules may mean you need to get a new one before going on holiday.
To be accepted by EU border guards, a UK Passport must be less than 10 years old on the day a British Passport holder plans to leave the EU. For holidaymakers, that means the issue date on their passport must be less than 10 years ago on the day they return from the EU to the UK.
In addition, that passport must have at least three months remaining on its expiry date at the time the passport holder plans to leave the EU.
Due to the way passports have been extended before October 2018, some may have had extra months added to their expiry date, with the original issue date left unchanged. That means a passport may still be "valid" but won't be accepted by some border guards at EU countries like Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and France, as its issue date could be more than 10 years old.
Read more: Four things to check on your passport before flying
If you are heading abroad this summer, check your document and the rules for the country you are going to. If you need to get a new passport, act fast, as the standard service takes about 10 weeks, which rules out renewals over the summer holiday.
You can use the Passport Office's Fast-Track services, which require an application and then a visit to the HM Passport Office in Durham. However, demand has been high, so you will need to be on the ball.
How long does it take to get a new passport?
If you use the standard application system, a new passport can take up to 10 weeks to recieve. HM Passport Office's advice is to allow 10 weeks for any application.
It says: "The vast majority of all passport applications are being dealt with well within 10 weeks. However, a passport can only be issued once all the checks have been completed satisfactorily and will take longer if applications are submitted with missing or incomplete information."
I need a new passport quickly, can I use the fast-track service at Durham?
HM Passport Office offers premium fast-track services. With these, it can take between two days and a week to get a new passport.
Appointments are released every day, for dates in three weeks. As the Passport Office is dealing with 'unprecedented demand', try and get an appointment as soon as possible.
The fast track services can be used if:
- you’re in the UK
- you need to renew or replace a passport or get a first child passport
To get a first adult passport, you will have to use the non-urgent 10-week service.
How do I use the urgent fast track service to get a new passport and how much do they cost?
There are two ways to get a fast-track passport. With both, you'll have to attend an appointment at the Passport Office. There is one in Durham City Centre as well as Belfast, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport and Peterborough.
Online Premium
- You’ll apply, pay and book an appointment online. The earliest you can get an appointment is 2 days from when you apply.
- You’ll get your new passport at your appointment. Appointments can last up to 30 minutes.
- It costs £177 (or £187 for a 50 page frequent traveller passport).
- You can only use Online Premium to renew an adult passport that was issued after 31 December 2001.
Apply here through Gov.uk
1 week Fast Track
Your new passport is delivered to your home within one week of your appointment. Someone might need to be in to sign for it.
You can use this service to:
- renew an adult or child passport
- change your name on your passport (for example with a marriage certificate or deed poll)
- make changes to your personal details on your passport (for example, your gender)
- replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport
- apply for a first child passport
Use the 1 week Fast Track service.
£142 for an adult passport (or £152 for a 50 page frequent traveller passport)
£122 for a child passport (or £132 for a 50 page frequent traveller passport)
Can you fast-track passport if I've already applied for one?
No. If you have already applied for a passport under the standard procedure, you can not then upgrade and fast track it.
The Passport Office states: "If you’ve already applied for a passport and have not received it, do not pay for an urgent passport - you will not get your passport sooner or get a refund."
When are new Passport Appointments released?
New appointments are released every morning. The appointment times are made available three weeks in advance.
HM Passport Office says: We have increased availability for fast-track appointments, extending working hours across HM Passport Office’s public counters. New appointments are released daily, three weeks in advance.
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