Post Office declares June 13 as 'Check Your Passport Day'

Some retailers are placing passport expiry-themed stickers on common food items after Post Office today (13) announced June 13 as "Check Your Passport Day" in an effort to ensure stress-free travel experiences for holidaymakers across the UK.

The initiative comes as a timely reminder, marking six weeks before the onset of peak summer international travel, following data from Post Office which factors in the annual surge in Post Office travel money sales in the last week of July and the end of the school term.

This provides holiday goers with enough time to renew passports or factor in additional checks that may be required if applying for a first-time passport before travelling. Official government guidance is three weeks for a standard passport renewal, but this could take longer if applying for the first time.

New research from Post Office also revealed a third (32 per cent) of UK passport holders start to feel nervous one to two weeks before departure if their passport has not returned. That is why Post Office has reminded the public to check their passports early, and with double the time necessary, to help ensure peace of mind for holiday goers.

It comes after the research uncovered that more than a third of UK passport holders (36 per cent) are unaware of their passport expiry date without having to check. A quarter (26 per cent) of respondents have forgotten to renew their passports before it expired at least once, while 12 per cent say they never renew their passport before the expiry date.

Seven in ten (69 per cent) respondents agree that there should be more awareness or reminders when it comes to passport expiry and renewal, which has led to Post Office wanting to raise awareness to ensure the public feel in control and avoid any potential complications while heading off on their holidays.

The findings seem to go against the nation’s obsessiveness with expiry dates in all other areas of life. When it comes to other perishable items, around nine in ten respondents check the expiry date on food items before consuming them at home with dairy products (96 per cent), meat and poultry (95 per cent), and bread and bakery items (94 per cent) top of the list. More than four in five (85 per cent) will check their medicine expiry before use, the same when it comes to condiments and sauces (85 per cent).

In comparison, four in ten (41 per cent) confess to not checking their passport expiry date even once a year, with 12 per cent only checking once in 2-3 years. Just under a fifth (17 per cent) check once in more than three years.

To help people think about their passports in the same way they think about other perishable items, Dipesh Modha, Edgware Road Postmaster, has placed passport expiry-themed stickers on common food items in branch, reminding customers of the need to check their passports too ahead of a key travel period.

The research also revealed that 42 per cent of UK passport holders are likely to book a holiday before checking the expiry date of their passport. This negligence can lead to unforeseen challenges, with almost three in ten (28 per cent) facing expensive last-minute processing fees for a new passport, while a fifth (19 per cent) have missed trips completely. Others have faced disruptions during travel, particularly as many countries require passports to have a minimum validity of six months for entry.

Elinor Hull, Director of Government and Identity Services at Post Office said, "Customers are advised by His Majesty’s Passport Office not to book travel until they have a valid passport. As our research shows that many customers do not do this, and with the summer holidays fast approaching, it's crucial for travellers to ensure their passports are up to date to avoid any unexpected surprises at the check-in desk. By designating June 13^th as Check Your Passport Day, six weeks before the peak summer travel period, we want to remind people across the country to take a proactive approach in safeguarding their travel plans, to ensure holidaymakers have peace of mind, and a renewed passport, in time for their holidays.”

Assuming the passport is in date (23 per cent), thinking the renewal date is far away (22 per cent) and forgetting to check the passport expiry (22 per cent) are the top reasons as to why people miss out on renewing their passports in time. Meanwhile, 15 per cent are concerned about the costs for renewing a passport, while one in ten (11 per cent) either don’t have enough time to devote to the renewal process or find it too complicated.

With its Check & Send passport service, Post Office branches play a vital role in ensuring holidaymakers can go on their vacations hassle free. Almost a quarter (22 per cent) of respondents prefer to apply for their passports and renewals at their local Post Office branch due to it being a convenient location (49 per cent), the peace of mind that the process will be completed correctly (41 per cent), and the expertise of the postmasters who can help with applications and queries (37 per cent).

At the Edgware Road Post Office, more than 500 customers from diverse backgrounds apply for or renew their passports yearly with the Check & Send service playing a key role.

Dipesh Modha, Edgware Road Postmaster said, "Passport services are incredibly important at our branch because it provides peace of mind to our customers. Customers come to us for our expertise, knowing that we can solve their problems efficiently.

“We handle passport applications day in and day out, so we understand that sometimes it can be difficult for someone doing it for the first time. In this area, there are many multilingual customers who might not speak English as their first language so the Check and Send service helps us streamline the process and make sure that applications are completed accurately while reducing the stress for our customers.

“We also handle more complex cases by appointment to ensure dedicated service without causing delays for other customers. So, whether it's helping someone renew their passport urgently for a last-minute trip or guiding a family through the application process well in advance, our goal is to provide reliable, expert assistance that meets their needs."