Simon Calder has £300 warning for UK passport holders over new rules.
Travel expert Simon Calder has issued a warning for UK passport holders, highlighting the potential £300 cost involved in renewing passports due to new post-Brexit rules. A recent study by Confused.com revealed that around 100,000 individuals per year could face travel disruptions as a result of passport expiry issues. The research found that 1 in 20 Brits have had to alter or postpone their travel plans because of expired passports, with September identified as the second busiest month for travel after August.
The study also indicated that approximately 1 in 5 Brits had to urgently renew their passports within a few weeks of their planned trips, leading to last-minute journeys to emergency passport offices. The average distance travelled for these urgent appointments was 140 miles, incurring an average cost of £300. Some individuals even had to travel up to 300 miles for emergency passport renewal, with children’s passport appointments potentially experiencing longer delays.
Since the UK’s decision to leave the EU in 2018, British passports are now considered ‘third-country nationals’. This designation comes with new requirements for travellers to the EU and wider Schengen Area. Adult passports must have been issued within the last 10 years and have at least 3 months of validity remaining on the day of return.
Simon Calder emphasised the importance of checking passport validity in advance to avoid holiday disruptions, estimating that over 100,000 individuals could face travel issues annually. Describing instances where travellers had to journey significant distances within the UK for urgent passport appointments, Calder urged caution, especially regarding children’s passports with their shorter validity periods.
One such traveller, Carolyn Pellatt, shared her experience of a 1,000-mile round trip between Southampton and Glasgow for an emergency passport appointment after discovering a discrepancy in her passport dates just days before her trip. Pellatt highlighted the financial and logistical challenges she faced due to the unclear rules, expressing a wish for clearer guidelines to prevent similar situations.
To assist travellers with these complexities, Confused.com has launched an online tool to verify passport validity for specific destinations. Alvaro Iturmendi, a travel insurance expert at Confused.com, stressed the importance of checking passport validity well in advance to avoid potential entry denials or flight restrictions, with emergency passport costs reaching up to £207. Travel insurance does not cover expenses related to expired passports or emergency renewals, making proactive checking vital for hassle-free travel.
By utilising the passport checker tool, travellers can save time, money, and stress associated with unforeseen passport issues, ensuring a smoother travel experience. The tool allows users to input their destination country and passport expiration date, receiving instant feedback on compliance with validity criteria.
As the holiday season continues, staying informed and prepared regarding passport rules remains crucial to avoiding unnecessary travel disruptions and expenses. Travel organizations like Confused.com aim to provide valuable resources to travellers navigating evolving passport regulations, ultimately enhancing travel experiences for UK passport holders.