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Millions of residents across the UK are being urged to check their passports before tomorrow’s ‘deadline’. It comes as May 9 has now been dubbed ‘passport renewal day’ with the Home Office warning of 10-week delays for renewals ahead of the summer.
It is reported that around four-and-a-half million British holidaymakers could see their travel plans ruined if they don’t have a valid passport by the time they’re meant to jet off. The Mirror reports how May 9 is the last date for a 10-week passport renewal for those wanting to jet away on July 18, the week many schools in England and Wales start to break up for summer.
In Stoke-on-Trent schools are set to close on July 20 – with the summer holiday running from July 21 to August 31. Co-op Travel has said demand for insurance has doubled in recent months, as it urged passengers to check their documents.
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Figures obtained from the Passport Office show almost 7% of the UK’s total population will see their documents expire before July 18, the week that many schools in England and Wales start to break up for summer.
Checking your passport by May 9 would mean any new documentation would arrive in time for your escape. Travelling without a valid passport is against the law, and most European countries now require British travellers to have a passport which is valid for at least three months after the date they intend to leave the EU country they are visiting.
For some destinations, your passport will need to have been issued in the past 10 years. Graham Ward-Lush, head of travel at Co-op Insurance, 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.
“There can’t be a more heart-breaking scenario than unearthing a passport the night before travel, only to realise that it is out of date. We want to help ensure that people all over the UK manage to have their dream holiday this summer and aren’t stranded at home due to invalid travel documentation!”
Passport renewals cost £75.50 online or £85 by post, and can be done digitally using the Government’s online service or via the Post Office’s check and send service.
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