There has been a significant increase in British citizens travelling, particularly to Europe for the northern hemisphere summer, as a result of the global lifting of COVID travel restrictions.
As a result, processing travel documentation now takes longer.
The estimated 250,000 British citizens living in New Zealand should check to see if their passports are up to date and give themselves plenty of time to apply for new documents from the UK if they are not.
The British High Commission in Wellington does not participate in passport renewal or issuance.
According to Sam Pass, Deputy High Commissioner, “many UK people in New Zealand will be travelling abroad for the first time since the start of the pandemic, and many may not have even glanced at their passports for a couple of years.”
“Take it out of the drawer, and check to see if everything is current.
To prevent this from ruining your vacation plans and to ensure that your paperwork arrive in time, if it isn’t, apply as soon as you can.
“We are eager to remind British nationals in New Zealand of the crucial actions they need to take to have a safe and happy journey, such as reviewing UK government travel advice, ensuring their passport is valid for their intended travel dates, and taking out travel insurance.”
The UK’s Her Majesty’s Passport Office recently reported experiencing unprecedented demand. Due to travel limitations, more than 5 million Britons put off getting passports during COVID-19.
According to the office, 9.5 million applications for British passports will be submitted this year.
It is advised to apply for a new passport online well in advance of your trip.
For instance, people who want to visit their relatives for Christmas in the UK this year should apply right away.
According to Pauline Comber, consular manager at the Wellington High Commission, “While we do offer consular assistance to UK nationals, we are unable to help with passport renewals, which are issued only in the UK.”
“Holidays aren’t what they used to be; they’re still enjoyable, but there are a lot more pre-departure inspections now.
Checking your passport should be the first step.
The UK government has launched a campaign to make sure its residents are safe while travelling, and now it is advising people to check their passports for validity.
The campaign advises Brits to study the government’s travel advice for the nations they are visiting, verify the COVID requirements for the countries they are visiting, confirm they meet visa requirements, and purchase travel insurance.