As summer holidays are fast approaching, many Britons will be looking to go abroad for a holiday.
But as the Home Office warned that the resumption could be delayed due to delays caused by the Covid pandemic, UK passport holders have been urged to check their documents long before they travel. The current delays mean it could take up to 10 weeks to receive new documents, The Mirror reported.
While passports expire, this is not the only thing you should check for them. There are other factors to consider, including the date of issue, which may make your passport invalid for travel.
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Instead of being rejected once you arrive at the airport, read below for all the four key things to check before you go on vacation.
Shelf life
It may sound obvious, but the expiration date of your passport is crucial. The Interior Ministry estimates that more than five million people have delayed the renewal of their passports in 2020 and 2021, as travel was largely off the map (including a ban on travel abroad during peak blockades).
In the excitement of finally going abroad again, it’s easy to forget to check if your documents are still valid, so be sure to check the expiration date of your passport. It is also worth noting that the expiration date must be valid after and you traveled.
Most countries usually require your passport to be valid for at least three months from the date of departure, including holiday hotspots such as Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Cyprus and Greece. The best place to check the exact requirements is on the board of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to travel to a destination – you can check this at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
Date of issue
Many EU countries in the Schengen area require that your passport be no more than 10 years old. However, when you consider that your passport must also be valid for at least three to six months after the trip, you must make sure that you meet both sets of criteria to visit a country.
For example, Portugal requires your passport to be valid for three months after the trip, so your passport must be issued nine years and nine months before the date of travel. Previously, UK passports were issued and essentially allowed for this buffer, but this has not been the case since the UK left the EU.
Again, the best place to check the exact requirements for your destination is gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. But it is also worth talking to your airline or tour operator if you are unsure.
Check your passport for damage
A damaged passport can be considered invalid by border controls on both sides of your trip, so it is important to keep this document in a safe place. However, accidents do happen – and if your passport is damaged, you will have to apply for a new one.
There are various factors that can mean that a passport is considered invalid. For example, if your personal information is unreadable, if there are pages that are torn or missing, or if the pages have been damaged by water. Any unexpected markings or inscriptions may also mean that your passport is not considered appropriate.
You can learn more about renewing a damaged passport on the website here – gov.uk/renew-adult-passport/replace.
Use the checklist with advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a specific pre-travel checklist that the British can use as pre-holiday guidance, and this includes key information on passports and visas.
As part of his advice, he suggests:
- “Take a photo or photocopy of the information page of your passport (the page with your photo, personal data and passport number) and keep it safe so that you can access it if your valuables / phone are lost or stolen.”
- “Sign your passport on the page opposite your information page. An unsigned passport is not valid. “
- “Fill in your emergency contact details on the back of your passport.”
You can learn more at gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-checklist.
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