Millions of British travellers are at risk of making simple passport mistakes that could cost them their holiday, according to new research.
Comparison site Go.Compare said up to 14 million people could have holidays ruined because they’re not aware of regulations for the country they plan to visit, such as whether the passport is valid for the correct length of time for their stay and destination, or that travel could be refused if the passport is damaged.
Almost a quarter (24%) were unaware of one or more rules relating to a country they plan to visit, according to Go.Compare’s research, which used ONS and survey data.
Just under a third (31%) knew that a passport must be valid for at least three months after the return date and half of recent visitors to Europe knew that a passport must be issued less than 10 years before departure for EU countries and some non-EU destinations.
The comparison site also found that only two in five UK adults (41%) knew they wouldn’t be covered by their insurance policy if they made one of these passport errors.
More than one in 10 (13%) weren’t aware of any of the rules they were asked about, including passports needing to be in date for a certain duration depending on the country they are visiting and that they can’t be damaged.
ABTA recently reminded agents to ensure clients’ passports are valid for travel to EU countries this summer.
Under post-Brexit rules, passports must have been issued less than 10 years before the date clients enter the country and, separately, must be valid for at least three months after the date they plan to leave.The only EU country the rules don’t apply to is Ireland.
But the rules DO apply to some non-EU destinations: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.
For further clarification, see a Travel Gossip article that explains the rules here.
