Holidaymakers warned to STILL allow ten weeks to renew your passport

Need to renew your passport? STILL allow ten weeks! Holidaymakers are warned that lenghty deadline introduced during Covid will remain in place due to ‘elevated’ demand

• Suella Braverman warned Britons to allow 10 weeks for new passports to arrive
• ‘Elevated and volatile’ demand for documents keeps Covid-era deadline in effect

Holidaymakers have been warned to allow 10 weeks for new passports if they are planning to travel abroad this summer.

Home Office has advised that the 10-week deadline introduced during the coronavirus pandemic would remain in place due to an ‘elevated’ and ‘volatile’ demand for travel documents.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has reportedly urged Britons to apply for their passports in ‘good time’ and avoid waiting until the ‘last minute.’

The warning comes after figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats by submitting parliamentary questions which were shared with The Daily Telegraph said the number of passports lost by the Home Office was at a five-year high. 

Holidaymakers have been warned to allow 10 weeks for new passports if they are planning to travel abroad this summer (stock photo)

Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured on January 31) has reportedly urged Britons to apply for their passports in ‘good time’ and avoid waiting until the ‘last minute’

‘We expect elevated demand for passports throughout the year – and demand can be volatile – so customers should continue to allow 10 weeks,’ Ms Braverman reportedly told MPs.

‘I urge people to apply in good time and not at the last minute.’

Her remarks come amid pressure from Wera Hobhouse, the Lib Dem MP for Bath, who argued the Home Office needs to ‘step up and take decisive action before more people are let down and lose confidence in these services.’  

‘These are new heights of incompetence for the Home Office. British travellers who urgently need new passports are being left high and dry by these endless delays,’ Ms Hobhouse told the paper.

‘With more and more passports going missing each year, it’s no wonder people are fed up with this endless travel chaos.’

The Home Office declined to comment on the advice and referred MailOnline to the Home Secretary, who has been approached for comment. 

The Home Secretary’s remarks come amid pressure from Wera Hobhouse, (pictured on January 11) the Lib Dem MP for Bath, who argued the Home Office needs to ‘step up and take decisive action before more people are let down and lose confidence in these services

Small passport detail that saw a prominent lawyer detained in Bali when he arrived on holiday: READ MORE 

Lawyer John Hammond (pictured) had just flown into Bali and was going through the immigration process when suddenly a problem with his passport was spotted

The publication of these figures comes amid a hike in passport fees – which came into effect last Thursday.

From February 2, the cost of applying for a new British passport rose from £75.50 to £82.50 for adults, and £49 to £53.50 for children.

While postal applications for passports will increase from £85 to £93 for adults and £58.50 to £64 for children.

The Government’s web page said of the fee hike: ‘The new fees will help the Home Office move towards a system that meets its costs through those who use it, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation.

‘The Government does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications.

‘The fees will also contribute to the cost of processing passport applications, consular support overseas, including for lost or stolen passports, and the cost of processing British citizens at UK borders.

‘The increase will also help enable the Government to continue improving its services.’

It is the first time in five years that the cost of applying for a passport has increased, the Home Office said, adding that the proposals are subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

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