British passport holders have been receiving urgent alerts from HM Passport Office. With holidays and business trips happening all year round, officials are urging travellers to carry out one crucial check before heading abroad
In a text, they urge people to follow a link. They write: “Remember to check that your passport is valid for the country you are travelling to.” They add that you need to “check the entry requirements” listing their website. Following the link takes you to the Foreign travel advice page. Listing a series of destinations, the page is there to help people get “advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.” Two popular destinations are Spain and France. In their travel advice, they note that both popular countries follow Schengen area rules.
This means that your passport must:
- Have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before October 1, 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
- Have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue)
However, places like Canada have different requirements. The Foreign Office warns: “To enter Canada, your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay.
“If you’re travelling through another country on your way to or from Canada, check the entry requirements for that country. Many countries will only allow entry if you have at least 6 months’ validity remaining on your passport.”
Once you’ve decided where you want to go on holiday, make sure your passport is in date. In a recent warning, the UK Government advises against making a common mistake when doing this, warning travellers: “Do not book travel until you have a valid passport – your new passport will not have the same number as your old one.”
If you need to renew your passport, you can do so through the official GOV.UK website. There, you can apply for a new passport, renew an existing one, update your details, or request a replacement, as well as pay securely online.
It is worth noting that passport fees vary based on your age and the method you choose to apply. Keep in mind that applying online is more cost-effective, saving you £12.50 compared to submitting your application by post.