Millions of people want their holiday experience to be as smooth as possible
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has told holidaymakers heading abroad to keep their documents safe(Image: PA)
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has told holidaymakers heading abroad to keep their documents safer by having a copy of them safely at home and separate from the original when travelling.
Millions of people go on holiday every year and having the experience be as smooth and stress-free as possible is important to many families. On X, formerly known as Twitter, FCDO says: “Heading abroad? Keep a copy of your passport, visa, and flight ticket separately from originals when travelling.”
The travel agency has asked people to “Keep copies at home and on your phone.” Tips for looking after passports that have previously been shared by the Foreign Office is to value the document and look after it carefully, a damaged passport cannot be used for travel. Other tips include:
Your passport is not always safer on you (e.g. lock your passport in a safe if you have access to one), unless the local law requires you to keep it with you.Make two photocopies of your passport – leave one with friends or family and take the second with you, or store it online using a secure data storage siteUse this photocopy as alternative ID, for example when going out at nightMake sure your passport is valid. For certain countries your passport must be valid for 6 months after the date you travel – check the entry requirements before you go
Tens of thousands of people lose of have their passports stolen and needed to be issued with an emergency travel document. For urgent passport needs in the UK, you can use the 1 week Fast Track service or the 1 day Premium service.
The Fast Track service delivers your new passport within a week of your appointment. The earliest appointment for this service is the next day after application. The Premium service results in a passport ready for collection 4 hours after your appointment.
If you lose your flight tickets, it can lead to several potential issues, including having to purchase a new ticket, potentially losing the value of the original ticket, and needing to deal with refund or rebooking procedures.
This weekend, the Foreign Office also shared guidance about “keeping an eye on your drinks”. On social media, they asked people to “remember not to leave your drinks unattended” and reminded travellers that drinks can have different alcohol measures.
The information is part of the Travel Aware campaign. It aims to ensure you have the best possible travel abroad, help you stay safe and understand risks in different countries.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s travel advice aims to provide objective information and advice, to help you make better-informed decisions about your international travel plans.
In a warning to all young people travelling abroad, the FCDO says: “You should also get a travel insurance policy and make sure you know what cover it provides.
“If you do not have appropriate insurance before you travel, you could be liable for emergency expenses, including medical treatment, which may cost thousands of pounds.”