31 MAY 2021

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Article from BTNews 31 MAY 2021

PASSPORTS

Following a record number of views regarding the BTN story last week the situation has clarified itself.
(See PASSPORTS – Home Office 10-week travel ban.)

Passports are being turned around much quicker if you take the electronic route, and perhaps even faster via the Post Office.  BTN has dispatched a current passport Saturday 29 May by recorded delivery to the Passport Office, Bootle, and will report back to readers when it is returned.

With MSC, the first cruise company to go to sea with an English port-to-port itinerary, under the 17 May guidelines and no overseas stopover, a Home Office spokesperson issued the following statement which will be correct for all cruise lines travelling in UK waters.  
 
“This is not Border Force guidance and this guidance has not been given to MSC Cruises by Border Force. If cruise ships are staying in UK waters then passengers would not need six months validity on their passports.”

BTN is also informed, via Abi Tierney, Director General for Her Majesty’s Passport Office, that if a standard application is made and paid for, but needs to be upgraded to fast track, a new fast track application will be required, and under certain conditions a refund of the original fee can be made. The Standard fee is £75, Fast Track £142 (seven days) and the 24hr Premium Service £177.

All cruise lines will require passengers to show some form of identity and if adults are taking children under 18 that do not belong to them (ie grandchildren) some form of authority is required.

www.gov.uk/going-and-being-abroad/passports

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum


John Jones, West Ham

It will be interesting to see how Mr Ginsberg’s passport application gets on. Maybe someone will spot it, and speed it up, or perhaps the reverse.


Gillian Jones, Golders Green

It did worry me having booked a cruise, phoned to remind me to complete the paperwork, it being pointed out that by the time we travelled there was less than six months left on the passport. The agent was not very helpful and said that the company rules required six months.


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