The chances are you haven’t taken your passport out of its safe keeping place for quite a few months, but before you start eagerly pulling those suitcases from the loft and getting ready to pack, make sure your passport is as ready to travel as you are.
Did you know that since Brexit, the requirements for your passport have changed. It is recommended that on the day you travel you have at least six months left on it. This allows for: travelling in Europe for up to three months (you don’t normally need a visa for the first 90 days in every 180 days of travel) and the requirement from most European countries to have at least three months left on your passport on the day after you leave.
Your passport must also be less than 10 years old on the day after you leave. If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the minimum period needed.
These rules apply for travel to and between most countries in Europe: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City.
These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland. You can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay.
Here’s a few essentials you need to know:
→ It costs £75.50 to renew or replace your passport if you apply online or £85 if you fill in a paper form.
→ You must be aged 16 or over (or turning 16 in the next three weeks) to get an adult passport. There’s a different process to get a passport for a child.
→ There are different ways to renew or replace your passport if you’re outside the UK.
→ Allow up to 10 weeks to get your passport. It takes longer to apply by post than online.
→ You may be able to get a passport urgently if you need one sooner.
→ Do not book travel until you have a valid passport – your new passport will not have the same number as your old one.
After so long with being unable to enjoy a holiday you don’t want to get left on the runway at the last minute!
For further information on: Passport rules for travel to Europe and Will My Passport Be Valid After Brexit?
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