Members of the public are being urged to check the validity of their passports well in advance of planning and booking any off-Island travel.
 
As the Passport Office prepares to enter one of its busiest times of year, passports are currently taking 20 working days from the application being received by the Passport Office to be returned by post to the customer.
 
Andrea Tabb, Passport and Nationality Officer, is urging local residents to plan ahead and avoid leaving applications and renewals until the last moment.  She explained: “People can renew their passport at any time in the nine months before it is due to expire. Any time remaining on the old passport will be added to the expiry date of their new passport.”
 
Anybody who discovers their passport is out of date, has insufficient time remaining on it to meet the requirements of the country they are travelling to, or requires a passport by a guaranteed date, can take advantage of the express service.
 
The express service aims to have the passport to the customer within five working days of their application being received by the Passport Office, subject to certain conditions being met.
 
The Passport Office will not accept any responsibility for travel booked before the applicants have received their new passport.  First time applicants are reminded they may be required to attend the Passport Office for an interview.  Where an interview is required applicants cannot use the express service.
 
Further information can be found on www.gov.im/categories/travel-traffic-and-motoring/passports or you can call the Passport and Immigration Office enquiry and advice lines: Passports: Tel 693222 / 685208 and Nationality: 686863.