As it is the summer holidays, it is likely that lots of families will be going abroad on holiday.
Families are being warned to check their children’s passports before flying due to one rule that people often forget.
If you book a last-minute holiday or leave checking your passport to the day before flying, you might realise you need a quick replacement because it has been damaged or it is too close to its expiry date.
Adults can usually get a quick replacement passport, but for children, the rule is different.
Why should I check my child’s passport?
While adults can use the Passport Office’s one-day premium service to get a new passport, it is not available for children aged under 16.
To get a new passport for children, you can only use the one-week fast track service.
Welcome Pickups, an airport transfer provider, has highlighted the issue and said children cannot get a last-minute passport for safety reasons.
A child’s details must be in the Passport Office’s system for at least five days before a passport can be issued.
Alex Trimis, CEO of Welcome Pickups, says: "The rules around children's passports exist for good reason, but very few parents realise you can't simply rush an appointment the way you could with your own passport.
"Our advice is simple: check the issue date, not just the expiry date, especially if you're heading into Europe.
"And if anyone in the family needs a new passport before a trip, start the process the moment the holiday is booked, not the week before it starts."
What key passport checks do I need to make?
Before flying with children, you should check the issue date for their passports well in advance.
For many areas, your passport needs to have three or six months left on your passport after your planned departure date.
You should check if your child’s passport is damaged, as heavy wear and tear can mean your passport will be rejected.
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Some places also require you to have a number of blank pages in your passport so they can stamp you in and out of the country.
If you fly a lot, it might be worth paying extra for a frequent traveller’s passport to get more pages.
Will you be checking yours and your children’s passports more carefully before travelling this summer? Let us know in the comments.
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