UK travellers are being reminded to check one simple thing before booking their next flight, or they risk being turned away at the airport. Post Office experts have warned passport holders to double-check the expiry date of their passports before making travel plans, as many destinations have strict validity rules that could prevent them from boarding their flight. This comes after it was revealed that a significant number of UK holidaymakers are unaware of these requirements.
A survey done in January of this year by the Post Office found that 1 in 4 UK travellers never check their passport’s validity before booking a holiday. 43% of those surveyed and who book trips abroad also said concerns about passport validity do not influence their booking timing, putting many at risk of last-minute travel disruptions.
The standard passport renewal time is about three weeks but this can increase ahead of school breaks and Christmas.
Richard Fleetwood, Postmaster at Town Centre Washington Post Office which handles over 70 passport applications monthly, said: “A couple weeks ago a customer came in asking how to renew his passport as it had expired, and he was going on holiday the next month.
“He was worried he had left it too late and wouldn’t be able to go away with his friends. Our team talked him through the process through our Check & Send service.
“He came back to store with everything he needed later that day, and within 10 minutes we had completed his application, checked and sent it. He came back with his new passport to thank us – he couldn’t believe how quick and easy we made it.”
He added: “Many customers are unaware of the rules around passport validity or the specific requirements of their destination country. My top tip to all travellers is simple – plan ahead.
“Be sure to check your passport’s expiry date and validity before booking your trip and make sure to always review the travel rules for your destination.
“Staying on top of your passport’s expiry date can save you a lot of stress and disappointment when your trip arrives. We recommend that individuals check their passports and visit their local Post Office early if they need to renew them.”
For EU destinations, your passport must be valid at least three months after your travel date and issued less than 10 years before the day you enter the EU even if it hasn’t technically expired.
To travel to other countries like the US, Canada, Australia, Dubai, and Thailand, your passport should be valid for at least six months from your date of entry, as many of these countries require or recommend six months’ validity to allow entry.