Brit Holidaymakers could face waiting up to 10 weeks for passports as applications surge

Burgundy passport holders warned to check they're still valid. image: Wikipedia

Brit Holidaymakers could face waiting up to 10 weeks for passports as applications surge and teleworking civil servants.

British holidaymakers are being told they may have to wait up to 10 weeks before receiving their new passports. The delay has been put down to a massive surge in applications and the fact that many civil servants are still working from home.

According to a report in The Sun, mobile reminders have been sent to people whose passports are running out by the government, stating:

“Reminder: It takes up to 10 weeks to get a new passport. Don’t leave it too late, renew now.”

This means that holidaymakers wanting to go away, but have to renew their passports, may have to wait until mid-October before getting them back- missing their holiday slots altogether.

Brits should check the expiry on their passports too, as before they needed just three months left on their passports to travel to Europe, new rules introduced no longer accept the additional 10 months that could previously be added- meaning passports with any additional months on top of the 10 years are now not valid.

“​​Your passport must also be less than ten-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 ten years may not count towards the minimum period needed,” states the government website.

“It is vital that those who may need to apply for a new passport do so now. If you have delayed renewing your passport or are applying for the first time, please apply now so you can receive it in good time.

“Our dedicated staff work tirelessly to ensure that passport applications are processed as quickly as possible. This new advice will help to ensure that we continue to meet the travel plans of our customers during any period of the very highest passport demand,” Director General of Her Majesty’s Passport Office, Abi Tierney, said.

Related:

Transport Secretary Grant Schapps refused to rule out putting Spain on the Red List when asked by Sky News on Friday, August 6, whether the country could return to the red list for travel destinations in future.

“With coronavirus, you can never say there is zero chance. But having said that, the levels of vaccination and what we now know about the virus and what our scientists have been able to work out in the last year means that people should be able to go away, enjoy their holidays without looking over their shoulders the whole time and as I say, the next set of changes are not for another three weeks,” he replied.


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Ron Howells

Ron actually started his working career as an Ophthalmic Technician- things changed when, during a band rehearsal, his amplifier blew up and he couldn’t get it fixed so he took a course at Birmingham University and ended up doing a degree course. He built up a chain of electronics stores and sold them as a franchise over 35 years ago. After five years touring the world Ron decided to move to Spain with his wife and son, a place they had visited over the years, and only bought the villa they live in because it has a guitar-shaped swimming pool!. Playing the guitar since the age of 7, he can often be seen, (and heard!) at beach bars and clubs along the length of the coast. He has always been interested in the news and constantly thrives to present his articles in an interesting and engaging way.

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