British tourists are urged to do some checks on their passports before planning their holidays. This increased 7% to £94.50 this month, after obtaining a new passport.
Passport rules for travelers in the UK have changed in recent years, with more factors in ensuring that your passport is valid while traveling. Later this year, the EU plans to introduce an entry/exit system (EES) as it is likely to replace passport stamps with facial and fingerprint scans and create queues at airports and borders. “We're a great place to go,” said Ian Wilson, travel insurance specialist and managing director at Tiger.co.uk.
“The changes in travel after Brexit are still confused by many of us, so it is important for Britons to get used to the effectiveness requirements before they fly to Europe.
“Travelers should ensure that their passport is in good health, as it means that it is not accepted as a valid travel document, such as damage from water or ink, tear in pages, or peeling laminates from personal details pages.
“If you are denied access to a flight due to an issue such as an invalid passport, travel insurance will rarely protect you, so it's very important to double-check these things before your departure date.”
7 passport checks to run before traveling this year:
1) Blank pages in your passport
All passport holders must have at least two blank passport pages during their travels. Otherwise, the document will be considered invalid. Those who travel more frequently can opt for a 54-page Jumbo Passport instead of a regular 34-page passport.
2) Expiration date
In many countries, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the arrival date. In Europe, a passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the date of departure and must be issued within 10 years. This is an important detail that you should remember like before. A UK passport may be valid for 10 years and 9 months, but EU regulations only valid for 10 years from the date of issuance.
3) Flood damage
If your passport maintains flooding, it cannot be used as a valid travel document. Mild exposure to water, such as slightly wrinkled edges of pages, should not be an issue, but further damage, such as dirty ink or discoloration, can lead to delays and rejections at the border.
4) Trench or cleft on the page
If any of the passport pages are torn or missing, the passport is considered damaged and may not be accepted at the border, especially if it affects the personal details page or visa stamp.
5) Laminated Peeling
If the laminate on your personal details page is lifted or peeled, you can raise the suspicion of tampering. This is a common reason why your passport is flagged or rejected, so even if all the information is easy to read, it is best to exchange your passport to prevent any issues.
6) Visa
The villa is particularly a non-European destination, and you must be familiar with the entry requirements of the country you are traveling to and obtain a travel visa if necessary. When traveling to Europe, you do not need a visa if you are going for a short trip of up to 90 days.
7) Child Passport
Children's passports are valid for only five years and often expire before the parents realize it. Parents should check early on the day they die and update at a good time to avoid delays and travel disruptions.
