Overview
- HM Passport Office is sending SMS reminders that say “Remember to check that your passport is valid for the country you are travelling to.”
- The texts link to the GOV.UK Foreign travel advice page for entry requirements, safety information and other guidance, and repeat not to book travel until you hold a valid passport.
- For Schengen countries such as Spain and France, passports must be issued less than 10 years before arrival and be valid at least three months after leaving.
- Requirements vary elsewhere, with Canada requiring validity for the length of stay and many countries expecting at least six months’ validity.
- Standard renewals usually take about three weeks, with faster paid services subject to availability, and online applications cost less than postal ones (e.g., £94.50 vs £107 for a 34‑page adult passport).