Holidaymakers face a 10 week wait for passports as overseas travels finally becomes possibly again.
Pre pandemic, waiting times were three weeks for the travel document, but the pressures of Covid and the surge in applications has more than tripled the wait time.
In 2020 the number of people applying for a passport was down three million due to covid-19 travel restrictions but with a lot of those restrictions now lifted the numbers of applicants have soared again.
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The home office issued warnings in April and even sent texts out to those whose passports were expiring.
The texts read: “Reminder: It takes up to ten weeks to get a new passport. Don’t leave it too late, renew now.”
Director General of Her Majesty’s Passport Office, Abi Tierney, said: “It is vital that those who may need to apply for a new passport do so now.
“If you have delayed renewing your passport or are applying for the first time, please apply now so you can receive it in good time.
“Our dedicated staff work tirelessly to ensure that passport applications are processed as quickly as possible.
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“This new advice will help to ensure that we continue to meet the travel plans of our customers during any period of the very highest passport demand.”
You can apply online via gov.uk/renew-adult-passport. This costs £75.50.
To renew or apply for a passport by post, you will need to get a paper application form from either a Post Office that offers the Passport Check and Send’ service or by calling the passport advice line on 0300 222 0000. The cost of a paper application is £85.
If you are travelling for urgent reasons – such as for essential work or on compassionate grounds – you may be able to get your application fast-tracked.
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