As we approach the sixth anniversary of Brexit at the end of the month, most Brits have adapted to the changes in travel regulations, with many planning to use their blue passports for a sunny holiday this summer.

However, one passport rule continues to trip up Brits repeatedly, with reports every summer of holidaymakers having their trips delayed or cancelled because they were not allowed to board the plane - and it's not just about the expiry date.

Checking your passport now can help you avoid a last-minute dash to the passport office just days before your holiday, giving you ample time to rectify any issues before heading to the airport.

Before Brexit, if you sent your passport off for renewal and it still had some remaining validity, up to nine months could be transferred to your new passport. This meant that some Brits would have adult passports valid for ten years and nine months.

At that time, the passport could be used for its entire validity period when travelling within the EU.

However, post-Brexit, a new rule stipulates that Brits must have passports issued less than 10 years before the date they enter the country. Therefore, if you're using an old passport, it may still be valid for the duration of your travel, but could breach the 10-year rule.

It's crucial to remember that passports must be valid for at least three months beyond the date you plan to return from EU countries, while some non-EU destinations require six months remaining. Ensure you check your passport's validity based on your intended UK return date, not your departure date.

The rationale behind checking your passport now is that it's much quicker to arrange a passport renewal at this time of year compared to the busy summer months.

According to the account @passportwaiting, which monitors the average processing time for passport applications, the current processing time for an adult passport renewal is just under nine days. This is based on data provided by individuals who have recently renewed or applied for their first passport.

In the past, delays at the Passport Office have resulted in Brits waiting weeks for their travel documents. In 2022, a surge of applicants renewing their passports for post-COVID travel faced delays of up to 10 weeks, leading to cancelled holidays and travel chaos.

For an adult passport, online renewal costs £94.50, or £107 if you prefer to apply using a paper form. However, if you need a passport urgently, the price increases to £178 for a fast track one week renewal, or a staggering £222 to use the one day premium service.

Once again, this highlights the wisdom of resolving any passport issues as early as possible to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Have you been caught out by the passport rule? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com