Travel News: Passport Information
Date Posted: 25/04/2023
With summer getaways on the horizon, there’s no better time to break out your holiday planner and start checking off those to do lists! Whether you’re a frequent traveller or heading off on your first overseas voyage, what better place to start getting organised than with your passport.
Dealing with such an important document can be daunting, but it’s actually a super easy process. Start off by checking out the passport requirements of the country you are travelling to. Obviously if your passport has expired you will need to acquire a new one before you travel however there are also some other rules you’ll need to consider. You can find out the rules per country here www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. A lot of popular holiday destinations such as Greece, Italy and Spain require your passport to be valid for at least three months after the date you leave the country, and your passport must also be issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country therefore you should check the ‘date of issue’ as well as the expiry date.
Whereas others like South Africa, Thailand and Dubai require a minimum of six months validity from the day you enter the county. This means even if your passport is valid at the time of your trip, you may be refused entry if the expiry date falls before the end of the stated period.
So, what do you do if you need a new passport? Well, there’s two options, the first is to apply online. This is the easier (and cheaper) route to take and can be completed through the GOV.UK website. When renewing a passport or booking an appointment, make sure you only use the government's official website - www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport. All you need is your debit card and a digital photo of yourself and your existing passport if you have one. Costs start at £53.50 for a child and go up to £82.50 for an adult when applying online.
The second option is to apply via the post. You can pick up your application form at most Post Offices and will need to send this off with two identical photos of yourself alongside your preferred method of payment. The price does increase slightly when applying by post, costing £93 for an adult and £64 for a child. Many Post Offices also offer a Check and Send service, for an additional £16, that helps you get your application right first time.
Whichever you choose, make sure you complete your application carefully and thoroughly – following guidance on sending off your old passport, and any other supporting documents, straight away so your application can be processed swiftly.
Remember it can take up to 10 weeks to get your new passport, but times may fluctuate so make sure to get sorted as soon as possible to avoid any mishaps! There are fast track options available which come at an extra cost. A one-week service is priced at £155 for an adult’s passport while a child’s passport is £126. While the online premium service may see you get your new passport in just two days, this cost starts from £193.50.
