Part of your festive plans might be jetting off to somewhere hot and avoiding the cold UK weather.
Or, you might be heading to a Christmas getaway in the snow.
Either way, the Passport Office has issued an urgent five-week warning to Christmas holidaymakers.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Passport Office shared a reminder for winter travellers.
They penned: ‘Christmas is just 5 weeks away! If ‘Yule’ be travelling, check your passport is valid for travel today.
‘Don’t let your sleigh be delayed.’
Holidaymakers have been urged to check their passports are in date, or if they might need a new one due to it being damaged or lost.
Those who apply for a new passport online will be charged £94.50.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter , the Passport Office shared a reminder for winter travellers
Meanwhile, the cost for those who request a new document via a paper form will have to cough up £107.
Holidaymakers are urged on the Gov.UK website: ‘Do not book travel until you have a valid passport – your new passport will not have the same number as your old one.’
What’s more, travellers should give themselves plenty of time for the new passport to be processed and issued.
Usually, applicants will receive their new travel document within three weeks but there can be delays.
‘It may take longer than 3 weeks if we need more information, or we need to interview you. We’ll tell you this within 3 weeks,’ the website explains.
The processing time begins as soon as the Passport Office receives the documents for the application.
There are options to receive a new passport faster. Holidaymakers can go for the ‘one day premium’ route and get an appointment two days after the application is sent.
They will need to bring their old passport and if everything goes to plan, the new passport will be ready four hours after the meeting.
Holidaymakers have been urged to check their passports are in date, or if they might need a new one due to it being damaged or lost
It costs £222 or £235 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport and can only be used to renew an adult document.
The one week fast track option will allow holidaymakers to book an appointment one day after they apply, at the earliest.
They will receive their passport by post one week after the meeting.
It can only be used to renew a document, replace a lost, stolen or damaged one, to get a child passport or to change personal details and costs £178 for an adult passport and £145 for a child.
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