Research conducted by the Post Office reveals that a third of Brits could accidentally block themselves from going on holiday due to not checking their passport expiry date
New research has revealed that over a third of UK passport holders are unaware of their passport expiry date without having to check, which could put them at risk of being blocked from heading abroad.
The Post Office has released research that shows more than a third of UK passport holders (36%) are unaware of their passport expiry date and a quarter (26%) of respondents have forgotten to renew their passports before it expired, at least once. A surprisingly large 12% say they never renew their passport before the expiry date.
The survey also found that a third (32%) of UK passport holders start to feel nervous one to two weeks before leaving for their holidays, if their passport has not returned and seven in ten (69%) respondents agree that there should be more awareness or reminders when it comes to passport expiry and renewal.
To remind Brits to check their passport expiry dates ahead of the peak travel period, Dipesh Modha, an Edgware Road Postmaster, has placed passport expiry-themed stickers on common food items in his branch.
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Elinor Hull, director of Government and Identity Services at Post Office, said: “Customers are advised by His Majesty’s Passport Office not to book travel until they have a valid passport. As our research shows that many customers do not do this, and with the summer holidays fast approaching, it’s crucial for travellers to ensure their passports are up to date to avoid any unexpected surprises at the check-in desk.”
Before Britain left the EU it was possible to travel in and out freely as long as you had a passport that was not expired. These days however, the UK is treated as a “third country” by the EU, with tougher border rules for UK citizens to match. Since the end of the Brexit transition phase British passport holders count as “third country nationals” which imposes restrictions on passport issue and expiry dates as well as length of stay when travelling in Europe.
The EU rules for travel in the Schengen Area – comprising most EU countries plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland – note that if you are a non-EU national wishing to visit or travel within the EU, you will need a passport:
- valid for at least three months after the date you intend to leave the EU country you are visiting
- which was issued within the previous 10 years
Since the UK left the UK, many Brits have fallen foul of these rules by turning up to the airport or port with an invalid passport, meaning they are unable to travel.
Dipesh Modha, Edgware Road Postmaster added: “Passport services are incredibly important at our branch because it provides peace of mind to our customers. Customers come to us for our expertise, knowing that we can solve their problems efficiently.
“We handle passport applications day in and day out, so we understand that sometimes it can be difficult for someone doing it for the first time. In this area, there are many multilingual customers who might not speak English as their first language so the Check and Send service helps us streamline the process and make sure that applications are completed accurately while reducing the stress for our customers.
“We also handle more complex cases by appointment to ensure dedicated service without causing delays for other customers. So, whether it’s helping someone renew their passport urgently for a last-minute trip or guiding a family through the application process well in advance, our goal is to provide reliable, expert assistance that meets their needs.”
The Post Office revealed the top challenges UK passport holders have encountered as a result of forgetting to renew passport, are:
- Expensive rush processing fees for a new passport – 28%
- Difficulty in identification for a new job or bank application – 23%
- Missed trips/vacations – 19%
- Difficulties from passport control at the airport ahead of your flight – 17%
- Difficulties from passport control in a foreign country – 16%
- Unable to travel for emergency situations – 16%
Official government guidance is three weeks for a standard passport renewal, but this could take longer if applying for the first time.
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