Many Brits will be planning a getaway abroad this summer. But if you are flying somewhere in the coming weeks it’s important to make sure that your passport is the right condition.
If your passport is damaged, shows too much wear and tear or was issued too long ago, it could stop you from boarding your plane. It’s more important than ever before to check your passport, especially as post-Brexit rules come into force.
With a surge in passport applications following Covid and strikes at passport officers, the Government currently advises that it’ll take up to 10 weeks to renew a passport, so make sure you check your travel documents as early as possible, the Mirror reports. Below are five common mistakes people need to look out for to ensure that their holiday runs smoothly.
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Not enough blank pages
Following Brexit EU border officials are required to stamp UK passports, so governments can keep a tab on who has been where. However, this means you can run out of blank pages a lot earlier than you’re used to.
This can be an issue when you visit certain countries as they can require a specific number of blank pages. It’s important to check the requirements of your destination before you travel.
Expiry date
Travellers need to ensure that their passports are valid for at least three months after the day they plan to leave when heading to an EU country. You also need to make sure that your passport has been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country.
This is something which has caught out many holidaymakers as previously when you renewed your passport, any remaining months were added onto the expiry date. If you turn up at an airport with an invalid passport, you may be denied entry to EU countries.
Countries outside the EU may have rules relating to the issue and expiry date, so make sure you check what they are before you book a trip.
It’s too damaged
A small amount of wear and tear is unlikely to cause you any difficulties at the airport, but if there’s too much or its the wrong kind, you could find yourself spening a week’s worthof annual leave at home. Officials could stop you if your personal details or observation page are unreadable; the laminate is peeling or lifting away from the personal details page; or your security details can't be made out.
Security officers could also turn you away for missing or detached pages, as well as cut out front, back or personal details pages. If the damage is not on the personal details or observation pages, and all visas, vignettes or immigration stamps are unaffected by the damage, security guards are very unlikely to question you about its cause. Tears, rips, burning, bite marks, writing or drawings are only problematic if they are on pages over that the passport cover and blank visa pages.
Liquid damage
As many people end up using their passport as a form of ID when heading out for a few drinks - especially when by the pool on holiday - it’s easy to see how the travel document could end up with liquid damage. If your passport has been damaged or discoloured by water, chemical or ink spills, then you may find yourself with a logistical problem on your hands.
You should be ok if there is only slight water damage to the page edges, or if the passport cover and blank visa pages are the only ones that have been affected.
Beware of scam websites
If you do need to renew your passport or apply for one, make sure you do so straight away. However, make sure you’re using the official Government website as scammers can set up fake websites advertising passport applications.
These websites attempt to charge users £20 - £100 on top of the official passport fee, by offering additional ‘validation’ services. When applying for a new passport, be cautious of these types of websites, and be sure only to use trusted sources. For example, the Post Office's Check & Send Service offers in-depth passport application guidance, from specially trained Postmasters.
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