Warning issued to 4 million UK passport holders

One successful 10 admit they person missed a vacation owed to failing to renew their passport. (Image: Getty)

Three successful 4 Brits are readying to publication a holiday this year, but galore volition beryllium unaware of a large pitfall that could hazard their precious clip disconnected work.

Freedom of Information information obtained by Co-op Insurance has revealed that implicit 4 cardinal British passports are acceptable to expire successful 2025.

The insurer besides revealed that failing to renew a passport had forced one successful 10 Brits to miss a holiday.

Despite 72% of Brits readying to publication a vacation successful 2025, an estimated 10 cardinal person expired passports, with an further 4 cardinal acceptable to expire this year. 

Co-op's survey showed that the fig of Brits missing a vacation owed to failing to renew their passport successful clip increases to astir 1 successful 4 (23%) for those nether the property of twenty-five, highlighting the value of staying connected apical of these important question documents. 

It claimed galore younger travellers were neglecting indispensable question protections.  The Co-op's probe besides recovered that a 4th (25%) of 25 to 34-year-olds had gone connected vacation without question insurance, portion 3 successful 10 (28%) 16–24-year-olds person had a superior mishap oregon unwellness abroad, compared to little than 1 successful 10 (8%) of 55+ year-olds 

Those who question uninsured enactment themselves astatine large fiscal risk, arsenic Co-op Insurance information reveals that the highest paid assertion successful 2024 was astir £21,000, an magnitude that would person had to beryllium paid by the idiosyncratic had they been uninsured. 

Graham Ward Lush, caput of Travel astatine Co-op Insurance astatine Co-op Insurance, said: “Keeping your passport up to day is simply a important measurement that galore of america neglect, which could effect successful disappointment and fiscal nonaccomplishment should it mean that you are incapable to question overseas arsenic planned.  

“Some countries necessitate astatine slightest 3 to six months of validity remaining connected your passport earlier travelling, and it tin instrumentality up to 3 weeks (or sometimes more) to renew UK passports, truthful it is ever champion not to permission it excessively late.  

“Those travelling overseas should besides question capable security screen to person bid of caput that they are protected from incidents that whitethorn effect successful precocious aesculapian expenses oregon nonaccomplishment of possessions.  

“If you are unsure of your passport expiry day oregon the champion security for you connected your adjacent trip, I counsel you to look into your options without delay.”