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James Rodger & Steven Smith & Ketsuda Phoutinane

Martin Lewis issues passport advice if application delay causes holiday cancellation

Martin Lewis has advised holidaymakers what to do in the event their passports aren't issued in time for their travels.

Time is of the essence, but what happens if your passport application doesn't make it on time?

HM Passport Office says processing could take up to 10 weeks.

Applicants face lengthy delays due to staff shortages and a surge of post-Covid travel, BirminghamLive reports.

Martin issued some advice for travellers during an appearance on This Morning on ITV earlier today as he answered viewer questions.

He advised: "The first thing to say is your holiday company - did you have any cancellation rights?

"If you don't, it is a bit like you have entered a tennis tournament and you don't have a racket - well, you still entered it and it's not their fault."

Martin Lewis said travellers have few options if their passports aren't issued on time (ITV)

He continued: "You have no legal right, but I would always call them up and speak to them politely - can they change the date? Can they give you some form of cancellation? Can they give you vouchers?

"Remembering you have no rights, anything they offer you is better than nothing. I would call travel insurance, but most won't cover this. After that, there really isn't much left."

However, the Money Saving Expert founder said there is a chance to get money back if you paid for an urgent passport service.

Martin said: "If you paid for a fast passport from the passport office, there is a chance you could be owed compensation from it in certain circumstances.

"I doubt it will cover your whole holiday, but if you paid for it to be expedited to get a quicker passport, you might be entitled to a little bit of cash."

He added: "There are systemic failings going on in the passport office and the system isn't set up to cover it, and if this happens to you, it really is very difficult."

It comes as the HM Passport Office has said over five million people put off applying for passports during the pandemic.

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