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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/sep/14/uk-passports-could-lose-up-to-nine-months-validity-after-rule-change
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UK passports could lose up to nine months' validity after rule change | UK passports could lose up to nine months' validity after rule change |
| (3 months later) | |
| Travellers who renew their passports face losing up to nine months’ validity due to a little-publicised change to rules brought in by the Home Office. | Travellers who renew their passports face losing up to nine months’ validity due to a little-publicised change to rules brought in by the Home Office. |
| Up until last week, when British citizens renewed their passports, time remaining on the existing document was added to the new one – up to a maximum of nine months. | Up until last week, when British citizens renewed their passports, time remaining on the existing document was added to the new one – up to a maximum of nine months. |
| But passport applicants have been told this no longer applies and any remaining months will be lost if an attempt is made to renew the document early. | But passport applicants have been told this no longer applies and any remaining months will be lost if an attempt is made to renew the document early. |
| The change was uncovered by the consumer affairs website Money Saving Expert after members of the public got in touch. The Home Office has been contacted for comment. | The change was uncovered by the consumer affairs website Money Saving Expert after members of the public got in touch. The Home Office has been contacted for comment. |
| New blue UK passports will be £120m cheaper if made in Europe | |
| It comes in the same week that the government released contingency advice for travelling to the EU in the event of a no-deal Brexit. | It comes in the same week that the government released contingency advice for travelling to the EU in the event of a no-deal Brexit. |
| Passports are valid for 10 years and currently cost £75.50 to renew online or £85 by post, with the fee increasing in March above the rate of inflation. | Passports are valid for 10 years and currently cost £75.50 to renew online or £85 by post, with the fee increasing in March above the rate of inflation. |
| The change in rules with regard to carrying over validity could lead to applicants renewing their passports as late as possible to eke out the validity. | The change in rules with regard to carrying over validity could lead to applicants renewing their passports as late as possible to eke out the validity. |
| However, many countries do not allow visitors with less than six months on the passport. | However, many countries do not allow visitors with less than six months on the passport. |
| When Britain leaves the EU, Britons travelling to the continent will need at least three months’ validity on their passport. | When Britain leaves the EU, Britons travelling to the continent will need at least three months’ validity on their passport. |
| Martin Lewis, the founder of Money Saving Expert, said: “This change affects price, because in effect passports will now only last nine and a half years. | Martin Lewis, the founder of Money Saving Expert, said: “This change affects price, because in effect passports will now only last nine and a half years. |
| “But it also runs the risk of more people being sent home, ruining holidays and putting many people in a worrying situation. Also, because of the timing which effectively means this shortening will take place over the Brexit period, it’s likely we’ll see an even bigger build-up of demand before next summer, when there are already long waiting times.” | “But it also runs the risk of more people being sent home, ruining holidays and putting many people in a worrying situation. Also, because of the timing which effectively means this shortening will take place over the Brexit period, it’s likely we’ll see an even bigger build-up of demand before next summer, when there are already long waiting times.” |
| On Thursday, the government published advice for travelling to the EU on a UK passport in the event of a no-deal Brexit, in which it recommended renewing a passport if it is to be older than nine years and six months after 29 March 2019. | On Thursday, the government published advice for travelling to the EU on a UK passport in the event of a no-deal Brexit, in which it recommended renewing a passport if it is to be older than nine years and six months after 29 March 2019. |
| A Home Office spokesman said: “To meet international guidelines relating to maximum passport validity, Her Majesty’s Passport Office no longer carries over any validity from a previous passport. | A Home Office spokesman said: “To meet international guidelines relating to maximum passport validity, Her Majesty’s Passport Office no longer carries over any validity from a previous passport. |
| “This will ensure that people travelling abroad will be compliant with border entry requirements around the world.” | “This will ensure that people travelling abroad will be compliant with border entry requirements around the world.” |
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