Travellers across the country are planning their trips for 2025, with many looking forward to the Easter holidays.
And, as many make preparations to go abroad, people are being urged to check their passport is in order. While most will keep an eye on the expiry date, there are other matters which also need attention.
If your passport is damaged, you may not be allowed to travel and risk being turned away at the airport. Any rips or tears would obviously mean your document is damaged.
However, there are actually five signs of damage that could jeopardise your holiday, according to the UK Government. We have listed these below.
If you have any of the following signs of damage on your passport, you need to get a new one. You can currently replace your passport online for £88.50 or you can do it by using a paper application form for £100. More details are here.
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Five signs of damage on your passport
The Government warns: "If your passport is damaged you must replace it. You may not be able to travel with it."
HM Passport Office will consider your passport damaged if:
- you cannot read any of your details
- any of the pages are ripped, cut or missing
- there are holes, cuts or rips in the cover
- the cover is coming away
- there are stains on the pages (for example, ink or water damage)
What else you need to check
Make sure you check your expiry and issue dates. If you are travelling to any EU countries in the Schengen area, including Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, your passport must:
- have a 'date of issue' less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
- have an 'expiry date' at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area
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