Simon Calder Issues £300 Warning to UK Passport Holders Due to New Rules
Travel writer Simon Calder has sounded the alarm for UK passport holders regarding new rules that could cost travellers £300 in emergency expenses. A study by Confused.com has found that around 100,000 people annually could face disruptions due to post-Brexit passport expiry regulations. The research reveals that one in 20 Brits have had to alter or cancel their travel plans due to expired passports, with September being the second busiest month for travel after August.
One out of every five Brits has had to urgently renew their passports within weeks of their travel date. This rush to renew has led to many individuals making last-minute trips to emergency passport offices, with an average cost of £300 and some travellers having to travel up to 300 miles for an appointment. The urgency is even more challenging for parents travelling with children, as fast-track appointments for child passports can take up to a week to secure.
Following the Brexit decision in 2018, British passports are now considered ‘third-country nationals’ when travelling to the EU and wider Schengen Area. There are now two critical conditions for UK travellers: adult passports must have less than 10 years since the issue date on the departure day, and there must be a minimum of three months until the expiry date on the return day.
Simon Calder estimates that over 100,000 travellers will face disruptions annually due to these rules. He advises travellers planning trips to Europe in the coming year to review their passport dates immediately, especially considering children’s passports’ expiry dates. A real-life example is Carolyn Pellatt, 57, who had to travel 1,000 miles between Southampton and Glasgow for an emergency passport appointment after discovering an issue with her passport validity just days before her trip.
To assist travellers in navigating these complex requirements, Confused.com has launched an online tool that allows users to input their passport’s expiration date and destination country to verify if their passport meets the necessary criteria. Travel insurance will not cover costs related to expired passports, including missed flights or accommodation, so it is essential for travellers to confirm their passport’s validity well in advance of their trips.
The cost of emergency passport appointments can reach up to £207, not including additional expenses such as time off work and travel costs. Travel insurance expert Alvaro Iturmendi emphasises the importance of checking passport validity early on and recommends using the passport checker tool to avoid stress and unnecessary expenses. It is crucial for travellers to plan ahead, as failing to do so could lead to entry denial into a country or flight restrictions, disrupting holiday plans significantly.