Oh the standard passport. That little blue (or burgundy) e book holds the ability to unlock beachy escapes, weekend metropolis breaks, and dreamy European summers. BUT, if you happen to haven’t checked yours just lately, you might be in for a nasty shock on the airport because of the brand new UK passport guidelines.
1000’s of Brits have been caught out by latest rule modifications, principally because of the complicated 10-year rule. Figures present that one in 20 folks have truly needed to cancel, postpone or miss a visit utterly due to passport issues. Don’t let that be you!
So, what’s modified?
Not hundreds with the applying course of – you continue to apply on-line or on the Submit Workplace. BUT from 10 April 2025, the value has gone up once more. A regular grownup passport now prices £94.50, which makes ours one of many priciest passports in Europe. Cheers for that.
You must get it again in round three weeks (from when the paperwork are obtained, not if you publish them). Although, this will drag out round college holidays, as a result of everybody and their canine instantly wants a passport renewal then. And I’ve additionally heard of individuals getting them sooner, so who is aware of actually? Greatest to only ship it off ASAP.
The ten-12 months Rule that’s catching folks out
Since Brexit, UK passport holders at the moment are seen as ‘third-country nationals’ when travelling to the EU. This implies:
- Your passport will need to have been issued lower than 10 years earlier than the day you depart.
- It will need to have at the least 3 months left earlier than it expires on the day you return.
That is particularly difficult in case your passport was issued earlier than September 2018. Again then, the Passport Workplace generally added leftover months out of your outdated passport onto the brand new one – so you might have a passport that seems in date, however was truly issued greater than 10 years in the past.
It was once okay, however since Brexit, it’s not.
End result? You may get turned away on the gate, even when it doesn’t expire for months. Brutal.
You received’t get compensation both. It’s your accountability to test.
Is your passport truly legitimate?
Right here’s a fast guidelines to keep away from any drama:
- Is your passport nonetheless in date? ✅
- Was it issued after September 2018? ✅
- Will or not it’s lower than 10 years outdated if you fly house? ✅
- Does it have at the least 3 months left on it if you come again? ✅
- Have you ever checked the passport guidelines for the nation you’re visiting? ✅
In case you answered ‘no’ to any of those… you’ll want to type it out!
Want a brand new passport quick?
You’re not alone – 1 in 5 Brits have needed to renew their passport inside weeks of journey in line with the stats. In case you’ve left it too late for the common route, you would possibly must e book a fast-track appointment at one of many UK’s seven passport places of work.
Prime tip: the closest workplace won’t have any slots, so be ready to journey. You could find occasions and costs for pressing companies right here.
Don’t neglect the children!
Kids’s passports solely final 5 years, and it creeps up quick. Double test them – getting an pressing little one passport appointment can take every week or extra.
Keep away from faux web sites
Please, for the love of journey, ensure you’re on the official passport web site when making use of. Some rip-off websites look an identical however cost far more – or worse, steal your information.
Need assist? The Submit Workplace presents a Test & Ship service for £16. They’ll test your docs, ensure that your picture is legitimate, and ship all of it through Particular Supply. In case you’re going to pay anybody for help together with your passport, pay them.
What’s new with the passports themselves?
UK passports at the moment are blue, biometric, and filled with high-tech anti-fraud options like holograms and microprinting. When the brand new Entry/Exit System (EES) is launched within the EU (someday in 2025), passports can be scanned digitally, so no extra stamps.
Except you’re travelling with a baby. Then it’s again to the handbook queue with you.
Will we’d like a visa for the EU?
Quickly, sure. Enter: ETIAS – the European Journey Info and Authorisation Scheme. From someday in 2025 (delayed once more… shocker), UK travellers might want to apply on-line for permission to go to the EU.
It’s principally Europe’s model of the US ESTA. It’ll value €7, final for 3 years, and must be authorized in minutes. Ought to. There’ll be a six-month grace interval when it begins, however count on some teething issues and doable delays at passport management.
Closing passport ideas for 2025
- Test your passport BEFORE you e book your flights
- Triple test for youths’ expiry dates
- Be sure to’ve received sufficient time left AND it wasn’t issued greater than 10 years in the past
- Solely use the official GOV.UK web site
- E book fast-track companies early if wanted