Singer Philippa Hanna has issued an urgent plea for help after discovering her daughter's passport may not meet strict travel rules for their upcoming family holiday to Portugal.
Under post-Brexit rules, travelers to EU countries—except Ireland—along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City must have at least three months left on their passports after the day they plan to leave, warns ABTA. The passport must also have been issued less than 10 years before the date of arrival.
Last-minute discovery
Hanna, who has toured with artists including Lionel Richie, Leona Lewis, Anastacia, and Wet Wet Wet, turned to Facebook for advice. She explained that her daughter Ozma's passport falls short of the required validity.
She wrote: "GUYS!! We need help. Do I know ANYONE who works for or is connected to the passport office or something even close? We need emergency advice ahead of our family holiday tomorrow?"
Later, she added: "I just found out Ozma has 5 weeks less than needed on her passport for flying to Portugal. We're only going for 5 days so the week fast track wont work. I'm just wondering if there's any way of getting an extension or a special permission or something."
Conflicting advice from followers
One follower, Gayle Hunter, a former airline duty manager, suggested contacting her MP, saying: "They're normally strict at least 3 months after the last day you're leaving on passport. An MP can get you a new one in three hours under parliamentary privilege."
However, another poster, John Dinsdale, who works in the airline industry, disputed this. He said: "There is a parliamentary/MP escalation route, but it only applies for compassionate reasons (family death, serious illness) not for holiday travel, so it won't help here."
He added: "You could try contacting the airline to ask if they'll allow 'OK to board,' but I doubt that's your best option. Even if they agreed, Schengen countries require a minimum of 90 days' passport validity, so Portugal border control could still refuse entry on arrival."
Dinsdale warned: "For an airline to allow to board they would need authorisation from the Portuguese immigration department first. If you're refused entry, the airline will face a fine (amounts vary by country), and you'd likely be liable for the cost of the return flight, airlines won't board anyone without valid travel documents in the first place."
He concluded: "Realistically, a new passport won't be issued in time even by fast track. I'd contact your travel insurer now to ask about cancellation/rebooking cover, I know this is not what you want to hear, but it's the most likely outcome."
Government advice on urgent passports
The government advises: "You can pay to get a passport urgently if you think the standard service will take too long." There are two options:
1 day premium
The earliest appointment is 2 days after applying. The government says: "You'll need to hand in your old passport at your appointment. Your new passport will be ready to collect from the passport office 4 hours after your appointment." This service only renews adult passports and costs £239.50 (or £253.50 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport).
1 week fast track
The earliest appointment is the next day after applying. The new passport is delivered by courier 1 week after the appointment. This service can be used to renew a passport, change personal details, replace a lost, stolen, or damaged passport, or get a child passport. It costs £192 for an adult passport (or £206 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport), and £156.50 for a child passport (or £170.50 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport).
For urgent travel due to medical treatment, government business, or serious illness or death of a friend or family member, the government advises calling the Passport Adviceline instead.
