So, I was out walking this morning when I realised the ground was covered in ice – ****, it’s winter, I realised. We can quibble over the specifics another time, but you don’t have to be a meteorologist or an astrologer to see that we’re in the thick of it.
So what does that mean? Well, it’s time to ignore the misery of long nights, short days and cold all of the time. Start thinking about this year’s holidays. But before you start booking anything, it’s best to check that you have an in-date passport. Because there’s nothing worse than packing for a trip you’re not allowed to go on.
While travellers are still able to use their burgundy passports throughout 2025 and until they expire, they must double-check they are definitely in date with at least six months left before expiration for certain countries.
We’ve written at length about the six-month passport rule before, but you may want to go ahead and renew even earlier than that to avoid further disappointment. Thanks to a Freedom of Information request, we now know which days experienced the highest volume of applications. And it’s the start of the year that’s particularly hectic.
While HM Passport Office predicts that “You’ll usually get your passport within 3 weeks”, a high volume of applications can, predictably, slow this process right down, however. That’s why the HMPO says:
You can technically renew your passport at any time. It is generally advised to renew your passport around nine months before your current passport expires. This accounts for possible delays or complications. It also gives you peace of mind regarding the six or three-month travel rule that applies to many countries
According to the HMPO’s data, March 17 saw the highest volume of passport applications last year. So you’ll want to avoid applying around this date if you can. Try to maybe avoid renewing in the first three months of the year altogether. The following dates also experienced high volumes: February 1, January 31, March 18, and January 30.
Holidays can be stressful enough without worrying if you’re even going to make it! To put your mind at ease, it’s best to renew your passport sooner rather than later. For all your passport needs and queries, you can check out everything via the GOV.UK website.