Millions of Passports need Renewal

Does your passport need renewing by May 9th for summer holidays?

Make sure you are not caught out with an expired passport, or one with insufficient time left on it!

Figures obtained from the Passport Office show 4.5 million people -almost 7% of the UK's total population – will see their passports expire before July 18, 2022, the week that many schools in England and Wales start to break up for summer.

Currently there is a ten-week lead time in place for passport renewals, so people need to check their expiry date ahead of May 9, which would mean any new passports would arrive in time for the great British get-away. Travelling abroad is impossible without a valid passport and most European countries now require British travellers to have a passport which is valid for at least three monthsafter the date they intend to leave the EU country they are visiting; and also a passport issued within the previous ten years. There have also been reports of airlines refusing to allow people to travel unless they have at least six months left on their passports; so check details for the country you'll be visiting before you travel.

Graham Ward-Lush, head of travel at Co-op Insurance – who are taking a lead in warning people of this situation – said: "Many of us won't have had a proper summer holiday since 2019 and we know that millions of Brits all over the country are eagerly anticipating this year's getaway, particularly as most travel restrictions have now been lifted. But with many passports having been lying in a drawer for the past two years, we're urging travellers to check the expiration date on their own passports and also any family member's today. Many families in England and Wales will be looking to get away at the end of July, which means May 9 is a good deadline to set yourself in order to ensure that new documents arrive back in time."

Passport renewals cost between £75- £85, and can be done digitally using the Government's online service or via the Post Office's check and send service.

So be prepared – check out your expiry date today!

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