Brits fearful of missing their holidays due to lengthy waits for new passports have been advised to follow four key tips.
A huge spike in demand following the Covid lockdowns has seen the Passport Office struggle to get the documents sent out in good time.
The organisation has warned people it can easily take 10 weeks for passports to arrive, while urging people not to book holidays until they've got the documents in their hands.
Some people have not heeded such advice and find themselves staring down the barrel of a cancelled holiday.
In their number is Sophie Fleetwood, who will miss a £7,000 family holiday to Turkey in early June if her passport doesn't arrive.
Naveen Dittakavi, founder and CEO of Next Vacay, has issued four tips people can follow to speed up the passport process.
Check your passport to see when it was issued
"After travel took a pause for many holidaymakers during the pandemic, plenty of passports need to be renewed. To beat any disappointments for your summer vacations, you’ll want to make sure that it has been no more than ten years since your passport was issued," Naveen says.
"You also need the minimum of three or six months to gain entry into many destinations, including popular travel spots such as Eygpt, Thailand, and Dubai.
"It may be worth seeing if you can push your vacation back to a later date if either of these issues applies to your passport, otherwise you may end up losing out on your vacation.”
Ensure your details are correct
“I’d recommend thoroughly checking your application before you send it off. Many delays are made through typical errors - such as incorrect photos or typos - which can worsen your chances of receiving a passport in time for a summer trip," he continues.
Go for digital rather than paper
Naveen advises: “There are many variables that go into how long it will take to get your passport renewed- from a first-time passport to a child's renewal.
"When it comes to the method of how you apply, digital applications generally take a shorter amount of time as parts of the application are less likely to get lost, plus the online process will be more efficient. Keep this in mind if you don’t want to end up stuck in the backlog.”
Make an appointment in person or over the phone
“With the current demand for travel in recent months, even the fast-track services for passport renewal are becoming overwhelmed so there is no quick fix to receiving your passport on time," he says.
"However, if you are traveling for urgent family matters - such as a funeral - you may be able to expedite the process.
"Alternatively, look to book an appointment to one of the various passport centres across the country - that way you can speed up the process in person and have someone on hand should there be any errors.”
