One frequent flyer highlighted the little-known passport conditions holidaymakers have to abide by or stand the chance of ending their holiday as they touch down in their destination. This is because individual countries sometimes have unique requirements outside of VISAs and travel corridors, even scruitinising how many open pages are left in your passport. Dawn Morwood, Co-Director of Cheap Deals Away UK, highlighted how to keep your passport in top shape.
Before going away
Before planning your next adventure, Dawn particularly cautioned holidaymakers about some countries that won’t let you in if you don’t have enough free space in your passport. She shared: “Some countries, including South Africa, Russia, and China, require travellers to have at least two blank pages in their passports for visa stamps. If you’re flying to South Africa, not having the required pages could result in being turned away at the border.”
Additionally, if you’re a keen jetsetter the travel expert recommended browsing some Frequent Traveller Programs during your time at home. She explained: “Frequent travellers, like myself, save time with programs like Global Entry (USA) and Registered Traveler (UK). They provide faster customs processing and entry.”
Checking the validity of your passport is also an absolute must before considering travel, especially to certain countries that have extended validity windows. Dawn warned: “Countries such as Indonesia, Bahrain and Thailand, enforce a six-month passport validity rule from the date of entry. While countries like the USA are generally less strict, requiring only that your passport be valid for the length of your stay, it’s always wise to check specific visa requirements ahead of time.”
If you find your passport does need a renewal before you head off, it’s best to do this as far in advance as possible. General UK Government advice is that travellers allow for three weeks to get their new passport and while some can get lucky and nab their fresh papers in a few days, others have been known to wait far longer so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Dawn added: “Last-minute travellers should take advantage of expedited services, but even these can take a minimum of 2-4 weeks during busy periods. Always renew your passport as early as possible to avoid delays.”
Booking and during your holiday
When booking your holiday it’s vital that you ensure all of the information you fill out online matches what is in your passport and other identity documents. Errors in spelling or incorrect numbers can lead to delays and some airlines may even charge you to correct it when you try to check-in for your flight.
Visas are a vital, albeit loathed, part of a traveling but having a seamless application process starts with some solid research. Dawn advised: “Countries like Burma, Côte D’ivoire (Ivory Coast), India and Vietnam require e-visas or specific visa documents before flying in.
“Depending on where you go, these can take minutes, hours or weeks to process, so apply early to prevent any last-minute issues.” Aside from the requirements, the expert urged travelers to turn their attention to the cost as well: “The prices are always changing, but as a rule of thumb, visas to some popular tourist destinations can set you back up to three figures.”
When you touch down, ensure you get all of the stamps and documentation you need before leaving the airport. Some countries like Malaysia require an entry stamp to validate your time in the country while those travelling in the Schengen Area could face penalties for overstaying if their stamps aren’t correct.