Martin Lewis has issued an urgent passport warning to everyone planning to travel this summer after new rules could make it invalid - even if it’s in date. During a special edition of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on ITV, the consumer champion shared crucial checks everyone should do now, as renewing a passport could take up to 10 weeks, or in some cases, much longer.
Martin explained there are two key checks people need to do that will make sure their passport is valid, and said that the first one is the one “people don’t check”.
He told viewers: “You need to check that it is under 10 years old on the day you enter the country - people get caught out by that - that is a common condition as some British passports are over 10 years old and they’re still valid, but you often can’t travel on that.”
The second check involves looking at the country you are travelling to as many, but not all, need you to have at least six months left on your passport from the day you enter the country.
Martin explained: “You then need to check for many countries, not all, that you have at least six months left from the day that you enter - if you don’t have that, then you need to check the country rules to see if it is valid.”
The founder of MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE.com) went on to explain that since Brexit, even European Union (EU) countries require three months validity and under 10 years old on your passport.
For anyone who needs to renew their passport, Martin said that “fast-track slots are limited” and warned that travel insurance companies will not allow your claim if you can’t go on holiday due to an invalid passport.
He said: “Let me be plain, [if you have] an invalid passport, the travel insurance company will not allow your claim if that’s the reason you can’t go on holiday. So I’m afraid you need to sort this.”
Co-presenter Angelica Bell shared an email from Janya, who contacted the show to share her brother’s experience of not checking his passport before travelling to Marbella.
Janya wrote: “My brother was scheduled to fly to Marbella. Upon arriving at the airport, he was shocked to learn that he would not be allowed to board the flight because his passport had exceeded the 10-year validity limit. We mistakenly believed that as long as there were more than six months until expiration, there wouldn't be any issues.”
Martin responded: “Well, there you go that just proves the point. I’ve heard of somebody who was turned back from Dubai.”
He is also checking into some airlines who are reportedly requiring travellers to have longer left on their passport. Martin plans to publish the research once he has done “some digging”.
Martin has also shared a huge list of 18 summer holiday need-to-knows which could save money before you go on holiday, including 5.4million people who need to renew their GHIC( UK Global Health Insurance Card) this year.
Read the full list on MSE.com here.
Renewing your passport online costs £82.50 and by post, £93. Full details about renewing your passport online or by post can be found on GOV.UK here.
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