Flying can be stressful at the best of times and will be made worse by any unexpected hurdles, with a lot of travellers not realising vital passport regulations in certain countries.
These strict regulations can cause major delays or even a total forfeit for a special getaway.
Therefore factoring in any entry requirements or passport rules prior to embarking on your holiday is vital.
Travel expert and co-director of Cheap Deals Away UK, Dawn Morwood, offered her six key insights every Brit should be aware of.
Morwood told The Mirror: “Failing to comply with specific passport rules or guidelines can result in denied boarding or entry at your destination, leaving you frustrated, delayed or even worse, stranded.
“Passport rules vary significantly from country to country.”
She added: “Some are even enforcing stringent validity periods or requiring a minimum number of blank pages for entry stamps and visas.”
Some countries, including Russia, South Africa, and China, require travellers to have at least two blank pages in their passports for a visa to visit.
Other countries such as Brazil, Thailand and Indonesia enforce a six-month validity rule.
According to Morwood, the six vital and simple passport rules include:
- Check passport validity
- Ensure enough blank pages
- Renew passports in advance
- Double-check your passport details
- Watch out for entry stamps
- Prepare for passport expiry mid-trip
“Should your passport expire mid-trip, returning home could become problematic,” added Morwood.
“Always, always check you have enough validity for the entire trip,” the expert advised, adding it’s “always wise to check specific visa requirements ahead of time.”
Advising for passport renewal in the UK, Morwood said: “The UK Government advises you to allow three weeks for your passport to be renewed.
“However, some people wait much longer, and others less than three! It really is a lottery.”
Source: express.co.uk