How long will it take to renew a passport?

British holidaymakers are being urged to check the expiry date of their passport so they don't get caught out by the post-Brexit 10-year rule.

Planning family half-term breaks or summer holidays but failing to check when each member of your family's passport expires could lead to "costly and stressful situations", said Yahoo News.

British passport holders are now treated as "third country nationals" in the European Union, said Simon Calder in The Independent. And there are "stipulations about passport issue and expiry dates – together with limits on the length of stay almost everywhere in Europe".

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Since Brexit, any UK citizen travelling to the EU now needs a passport that is less than 10 years old and is "valid for at least three months after the day you leave", said The Times Money Mentor.

This means that, even if your passport hasn't officially expired and may be valid for travel elsewhere, you won't be able to travel to Europe if it was issued more than 10 years ago or will have less than three months remaining on the date of your return. It is your responsibility to check and "you cannot claim compensation if you are turned away", said Saga.

Many Britons are being "caught out by the EU's ten-year rule", said TravelSupermarket, and there could be delays in issuing new passports later this year, so it is worth checking and, if necessary, renewing your passport "sooner rather than later".

How to renew a passport

Adult passports need to be renewed every 10 years. Most renewal applications are currently taking three weeks, said HM Passport Office but the process may take longer "if we need more information, or we need to interview you".

The process is quicker online than by post, and can take longer if you apply from outside the UK.

Renewing a passport online costs £88.50, while using a paper form costs £100. For children under 16, applications cost £57.50 online and £69 by post. The latest price rise, in April 2024, was the second rise in 14 months, said the BBC.

You will need a digital photo (or two printed ones, if applying by post), a credit or debit card and your current passport in order to complete the passport service form.

To complete the process by post, you will need to get the application form from a Post Office that offers the Check and Send service, or by calling the Passport Advice line. You don't have to use the Check and Send service, which costs an additional £16, but, if you do, Post Office staff will check that your application fulfils all necessary requirements before it's sent off.

Can I get a passport urgently?

If you are "in a hurry", said the Post Office, there are other "faster services" but they are "more expensive".

You can apply for an urgent application by booking (and paying for) an appointment at one of the UK's seven passport offices – in Belfast, Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport or Peterborough. You can expect an appointment to last up to 10 minutes.

This urgent service works in three ways: you can either pay for the one-day premium service (only available for renewing adult passports issued after 31 December 2001) or the one-week fast track service. With either service, you can apply using an online form or on paper, and you will need photos, a debit or credit card and your current passport.

With the one-day premium service, which costs £207.50, your new passport will be ready to collect four hours after you have your appointment and hand in your old passport; with the one-week fast-track service, which costs £166.50 for an adult and £135.50 for a child) your new passport will be couriered to you one week after your appointment.

What are the rules for passport photos?

You will need to provide photos every time you renew your passport, either by providing a digital photo for an online application, or two printed photos for a paper application. In both cases, the photo must have been taken within the last month.

Follow all the instructions carefully. Photos are often rejected for simple mistakes, such as the face being too close to the camera or issues with file sizes and file types.

According to Passport Office rules, photos must be clear and in focus, in colour, and contain no other objects or people. Photos that appear to have "red eye" will not be accepted, and backgrounds must be plain and light coloured. Nothing should cover your face, and there should be no shadows.

Glasses should be removed if possible, as well as head coverings, unless worn for religious or medical reasons.

Digital photos should be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels in height. The file must be at least 50KB but no more than 10MB.

Print photos should be 45mm high and 35mm wide, the standard size for images printed at UK photo booths. The images must be printed to a professional standard, and not be creased or torn. When posted, the images should be separated from one another, and not attached to the application form.

What if I change my name?

If you change your name, you will need a new passport before travelling abroad. The same applies if you legally change gender, or change your appearance "so extensively that you can no longer be recognised", said The Times Money Mentor.

Only in the last instance would your application need to be countersigned.

If you are updating your name on your passport because of marriage or civil partnership, you can apply for a new passport up to three months before your ceremony. This passport cannot be used until after the ceremony, and you will need to send a separate form along with your application.

What if I lose my passport?

If your passport is lost or stolen you will need to cancel it as soon as you can. A cancellation can also be processed by a third party, if you are unable to complete the process yourself.

When reporting a stolen passport to the local police, ask for a written report which may be needed by the British Embassy or your travel insurer, the Post Office notes.

If you aren’t able to get a passport in time for your planned return, you can apply for an Emergency Travel Document which will allow you to travel through a maximum of five countries to your final destination. Your planned route details will be printed on the document and it will be kept by border officials if you are returning to the UK.