Overview
- HM Passport Office says a passport must be replaced if details are unreadable or if there are ripped or missing pages, holes or cuts in the cover, a separating cover, or stains.
- Airlines perform pre‑boarding checks and can deny travel if they expect problems at the destination, and immigration officers can refuse entry even when a visa and expiry date are valid.
- Standard online renewals take about three weeks at £94.50, while urgent services cost £178 for the one‑week option and £222 for a same‑day appointment.
- Countries reported as particularly strict include Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the United States, Australia and the UAE, especially where chips, machine‑readable zones or the data page are damaged.
- Online applications are cheaper than postal submissions at £107, and Post Office branches offer paid help with photos and completing applications.