I’ve lost count the number of emails I have received from consumers asking questions about passports, and according to the Post Office, a fifth of us Brits have no idea when their passport expires, while 30 per cent of UK travellers have experienced a ‘passport nightmare’

I cannot understand how anyone could possibly leave their passport at home, and it makes me laugh when I watch programmes like Airline, where the passenger realises when they get to the check-in desk that they have left their passport. Incredible!

So here are some quick tips to make sure your holiday does not turn into a passport nightmare.

• Check your passport expiry date prior to booking your holiday
• If the passport expires six months from your departure then you will need to renew it.
• Children under the age of 16 now need to have their own passport which is valid for five years
• A passport can take up to three weeks depending on the service you choose
• Report your lost / stolen passport to the police and to the British Embassy of the country you are in

Did you know?

That gradually through 2007 the Identity and Passport Service are introducing passport interviews for those applying for an adult passport for the first time. You only need to be interviewed if you are contacted by the IPS.

Young people aged 16 or 17 will be able to apply for a passport without parental consent with effect from 10 December 2007 and for tons more information on applying or renewing your passport visit the Identity and Passport Service website.

• Know Before You go – Passport and Visa Advice
• Learning from your travel experiences
• The Travel Rants Planning Guide for Holidaymakers
• UK Issues It’s First E-Passports

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