What do I need to check about my passport?

Before you go, please check the following:

• The name(s) and initials on your flight tickets must exactly match those on your passport.
• For travel to most countries, a British passport must remain valid for at least six months after your scheduled return to the UK. Please contact the embassy of your destination country for the most up-to-date information.
• If your passport or travel documents are damaged or have been tampered with, you may not be able to travel. If you have any doubts about the condition of your passport, please contact the Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000, operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (national call rate).

I need to renew my passport.

How long will it take?
Apply early. You don't have to wait until your current passport expires to renew it.

If you renew your passport before it expires, any remaining period of validity will be rounded down to the nearest whole month and added to your new passport. This period is calculated from the point at which your new passport is authorised for issue, not from the date of application.

Our advice?
You should apply at least six weeks before your current passport expires.

What do I need to apply for a passport?

For first-time British passport applications, you’ll need documentation to prove that you are a British citizen. These documents will need to be originals, not photocopies. Originals may also be required if you are replacing a lost or stolen passport.

For further details call the Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000 or visit the Passport Service website by clicking here.

What is the situation regarding children and passports?

Since 05 October 1998, children under 16 have been required to travel on their own passport.

If your child is already included on your passport, he or she is not affected by this change and can continue to travel on your passport until it expires or until they reach the age of 16. However, please be aware that some countries, such as Bulgaria, may refuse entry to any children without their own passports.

If a new document is required during the validity of your existing passport, any child who is included on it will need to apply for a separate passport.

Passport application can be a lengthy process, so we recommend that you plan ahead and keep your holiday dates in mind.

What is a machine-readable passport and how do I get one?

A machine-readable passport has the holder's personal details (name, date of birth, nationality and passport number) contained in two lines of text at the base of the photo page.

All UK passports issued in the UK since 1988 are machine-readable. If your passport is from outside Britain, however, it may not be. For further information or to obtain a machine-readable passport, please call the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel Advice Unit on 0845 850 2829.

What should I do if my passport is lost or stolen?

Whilst in the UK, you should immediately report the loss or theft of your passport to the police and to the UK Passport Service (UKPS). You will need to complete and sign a lost/stolen declaration form, obtainable from:

1. The Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000.
2. The UKPS website, by visiting the Passport Service website - click here.
3. Any passport office or police station.
4. Selected Post Office branches offering the passport application Check & Send service.

Whilst you are abroad, report the loss or theft of your passport immediately to the local police, the British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission. You can find all the details of your local British government officials on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website by clicking here, or by telephone on +43 20 7008 1500. The local police may also provide you with further details.

If your passport is lost or stolen, there is one precaution that will greatly speed up the process of replacing it... having a photocopy of your passport in a safe and seperate place, both abroad and back at home. Of course, no one imagines that it will happen to them and only well seasoned travellers take such measures.

What is a visa?

A visa, usually a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport, is an indication that a person is authorised to enter the country which "issued" the visa, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. It is issued by the Embassy or Consulate of a country within the applicants home country.

Some countries do not require a visa or do not require a visa in some situations, such as EU citizens travelling within the EU. The country issuing the visa typically attaches various conditions to the visa, such as the time that the visa is valid, the period that the person may stay in the country, whether the visa is valid for more than one visit, etc.

The possession of a visa is not in itself a guarantee of entry into the country that issued it, and a visa can be revoked at any time.

A visa does not generally give a person any rights beyond the right to enter a country and remain there. Anything beyond those basic entitlements requires special permits, such as a residency permit or work permit.

Some countries require that their citizens, and sometimes foreign travellers, obtain an exit visa in order to be allowed to leave the country.

I'm not a British citizen. Do I need a visa?

If you are non-British citizen, please consult the embassy of your destination country and the Home Office Immigration Department. You may require special documentation, either for your destination country or for your return to the UK.

Non-British citizens include citizens of British Dependent Territories, those who hold their citizenship by virtue of connection with Gibraltar, British subjects who have a right to live in the United Kingdom, and EC and other nationals.

What are the changes to USA entry requirements?

As of October 2004, if your passport is not machine-readable, you will need an entry visa for travel to the United States of America. Infants and children travelling on a parent's passport will also require entry visas, regardless of whether the parent's passport is machine-readable.

The majority of British Citizens entering the USA qualify for travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and current regulations can be found on the US Embassy website, by clicking here , and they also provide a Visa Wizard for you to test your qualifications.

As of January 12 2009, all citizens of VWP qualifying countries, including the UK, are required to obtain a web-based electronic travel authorisation (ESTA) prior to travelling to the USA. Further details can be found on the ESTA website, by clicking here.

What if I'm unsure about the ESTA questions or don't have internet access?

Don't worry, Travel Advisors can apply for your ESTA on your behalf. A small administration fee of £10.00 is all it will cost you. Call us on 01246 555777 during office hours.