INTRODUCTION
The Passport Office has recently made changes to their renewal policy, which hasn’t been communicated via the mainstream media to passport holders. As of Monday 10th September 2018, the Passport Office announced that their renewal policy will no longer credit a new passport with any unexpired time from the previous passport. Previously, any ‘leftover’ time would automatically be added onto the expiration date of a new passport, meaning that you never lost any months of validity on your passport as it was always credited on your new passport.
1 MONTHS VALIDITY
Eritrea, Hong Kong, Macao, New Zealand, South Africa
3 MONTHS VALIDITY
Schengen Area countries, Georgia, Honduras, Iceland, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Moldova, Nauru, Panama, United Arab Emirates.
4 MONTHS VALIDITY
Micronesia, Zambia.
6 MONTHS VALIDITY
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Comoros, Cote de’Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Lese, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam.
OUTRO
Be prepared before your trip and double-check that you have enough validity left on your passport before travelling to any of the above countries. If in doubt, check with your travel manager. Although the above changes won’t affect anyone for at least 9 years when your next renewal comes around, we can’t help but think how many people may be affected by lost months of validity when previously they wouldn’t have.
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At Gray Dawes Group we strive to create an environment which recognises and nurtures a healthy work/life balance – for our staff and clients alike.
By providing our customers with better travel management, they’re able to achieve what they need to by working flexibly, whether in the office, at home or around the globe.
