FAMILIES planning a holiday abroad this summer have been warned to renew their passports NOW due to the strike likely to cause delays.
Nearly 1,800 staff members at the Passport Office have gone on strike for the next five weeks.
AFPPassport staff are on strike for five weeks – and it could affect your application[/caption]
As many as 600,000 passport renewal applications are expected during the five-week strike.
And Brits are now being warned that this is likely to affect passport renewals in the run up to the busy summer holidays.
A union source told the i that there is a “backlog mounting” which was exacerbated by Covid and the busy Easter holidays, and will be made worse by the strikes.
They said: “People should give as much time as possible and get their applications in as soon as they possibly can because we can’t predict how long this is going to extend deadlines.
“If someone wants a passport done before summer because their expiry date is coming up, I would recommend it comes in sooner so the department has a chance to look at it. The sooner the better.
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) who represents the workers has said it is “inevitable” that delays will happen.
The UK government currently advises Brits to allow up to 10 weeks to get their passport back.
This means if you were to apply today, the latest you would get it back would be mid-June.
They said that 99 per cent of applications have been processed within this time and that they had prepared to meet the demand.
A spokesperson said: “We are working to manage the impact of this strike action, whilst ensuring we continue to deliver vital services to the public through our comprehensive contingency plans.
“There are currently no plans to change our guidance which states that customers should allow up to 10 weeks to get a passport.”
You may need a new passport without realising, due to new passport rules since the UK left the EU.
Passports must be no longer than 10 months old – previous rules let you roll up to nine extra months on.
And if travelling to Europe, you need at last three months on your passport, while some countries require six months.
Here’s how to get a fast-track passport renewal.
Make sure to apply online though – it costs more to apply in person.
AlamyApply now if you have a summer holiday, a source has warned[/caption] Read More