Holidaymakers urged to renew passport in the next two weeks

Holidaymakers are being urged to renew their passports at Christmas as new statistics show the busiest and least busiest times for applications. New data from the HM Passport Office has revealed March 17 as the busiest day for submissions last year, and all five busiest dates fell in the first three months.

Meanwhile, Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and Boxing Day were the quietest days for passport renewals, making it the opportune time to get prepared for next year’s holidays while it’s quiet. And Brits are also being warned to be aware of post-Brexit changes that have caught out many holidaymakers over recent years, with passports having to be valid for more than three months and a new 10-year rule also in place.

Mario Van Poppel, founder of foreign currency exchange Leftover Currency which obtained the data via a Freedom of Information request, insists it shows the benefits of being well organised when travelling overseas. He said: “The thought of booking a trip and then realising your passport has run out is a nightmare for most. But it is something that has caught out many people over the years.

“With new rules in place, the importance of getting your passport renewal sorted sooner rather than later has never been more important. Unlike getting some last-minute foreign currency, getting a new passport days or even hours ahead of reaching the departure gate is simply not possible.”

The official data showed March 17 last year to be the busiest day for HMPO receiving passport applications since the start of 2022. That was followed by February 1, January 31, March 18 and January 30 (all 2023).

Making up the top 10 were January 29 2023, March 20 and April 10 this year, May 1 2022 and April 27 2022. Mario added: “While it is not always possible to predict the exact date your renewal will be dealt with, there are patterns in this data that show the first three months of the year are definitely the busiest.”

Since leaving the EU, UK citizens travelling to all countries in the single market must have a passport issued less than 10 years before the departure date and valid for three months after the planned return date. Passports issued after 2018 are valid for precisely 10 years, but those issued before then could be valid for up to 10 years and nine months due to older rules.

The HMPO website states: “You can technically renew your passport at any time. It is generally advised to renew your passport around nine months before your current passport expires. This accounts for possible delays or complications. It also gives you peace of mind regarding the six or three-month travel rule that applies to many countries.”