Passports and visas

What documents do I need to take with me to the airport?

If you don’t have a valid passport, visa or entry permit, you may be refused travel, either by us or by the airline.

Please be aware that if this happens, we are unable to assist you in any way. Be sure to double-check that you’ve remembered these documents.

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 0870 521 0410 or visit the Passport Service website

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.

I need to renew my passport. How long will it take?

Our advice? 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. So if you want to receive this benefit, you should really 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 0870 521 0410 or visit the Passport Service website.

What is the situation regarding children and passports?

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

If you are 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. This can be obtained from the following sources:

• The Passport Adviceline on 0870 521 0410
• The UKPS website on the Passport Services website
• Your local passport office or police station
• Selected Post Office branches offering the passport application Check & Send service

If you are abroad, report the loss or theft of your passport immediately to the local police, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Consulate, Embassy or High Commission. You can find all the details of your local FCO by calling 0845 850 2829 before you go on holiday.

Would you like further information? Please visit the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website.

Of course, having said all that. . . it makes life much easier if your passport isn’t lost or stolen in the first place. To minimise the risk, we suggest you keep your passport in a safe place, separate from other documents.

We also advise keeping photocopies of your passport in safe, separate places both at home and abroad. If your passport is lost or stolen, this will greatly speed up the process of replacing it.

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.

Applying for a US entry visa can be a lengthy process. We strongly recommend that you obtain machine-readable passports prior to your visit, both for you and your children.

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. Alternatively, you can contact the US Embassy on 09042 450 100 (calls are charged at £1.20 per minute) or visit the US Embassy website.