Martin Lewis has issued an urgent warning to holidaymakers planning a trip abroad once the travel restrictions have been lifted.
The founder of MoneySavingExpert.com wrote in his weekly newsletter that if your passport is at, or nearing expiry, you should renew it as soon as possible.
The reason for the urgency is because the Passport Office is warning that renewing is taking longer than the usual three weeks due to the current backlog - a direct result of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The MoneySavingExpert.com team reports that at the extreme, some renewals are taking three months or more, while fast-track services and face-to-face appointments are currently suspended due to social distancing safety measures.
One holidaymaker, called Tracy, got in touch with Martin by email and wrote: “Been waiting 13wks. Now looks like our holiday will have to be cancelled, costing us £1,000s."
And 'no passport' isn't covered on most travel insurance policies.
The Passport Office has warned on its website since late March that it is taking longer than the usual three weeks to process applications, because of "changed working practices designed to keep both staff and customers safe" during the pandemic.
But because most flights were grounded and the Foreign Office is warning against all but essential travel, delays to passport renewals haven't been a problem - until now.
With many travel firms now planning to resume flights in the coming weeks and budget airlines offering huge discounts for August and speculation that the Foreign Office may soon lift its blanket travel advisory, delays are becoming a huge concern for those with summer holidays already booked and a passport in need of renewal.
The Passport Office won't say how long applications are taking - only that it's "longer than usual" and advises passengers "do not apply unless you’re travelling before September 2020."
Get advice about travelling abroad, including the latest information on coronavirus, safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings on the Foreign Office website here.
