For those wishing to travel abroad this year, a passport is one of if not the most important things to have in order.

It is one of the many important things on the checklist to get right before jet-setting abroad.

A passport becomes invalid when its expiration date has passed or if the holder's personal details, such as name and photo, are no longer accurate.

However, it is also invalid if it is damaged beyond repair, so it is important to keep it in order.

UK Passport Renewal Guide

What is unacceptable damage on a passport? When to replace it

According to the Post Office, HM Passport Office classes a passport as damaged if:

  • Details are indecipherable
  • The laminate has lifted enough to allow the possibility of photo substitution
  • There’s discolouration of the bio-data page
  • There’s chemical or ink spillage on any page
  • There are missing or detached pages
  • The chip or antenna shows through the end paper on the back cover for the new style e-passports
  • The chip has been identified as damaged after investigation

More information on damaged passports can be found on the gov.uk website.

Other than damage, there are other reasons you may have to renew your passport to ensure it is valid.

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When should I renew my passport?

Always check if your passport is valid before you book your next holiday. It’s just as important as booking flights or a hotel because if it’s not up to scratch, then you won’t be able to go.

You will need to renew your passport if:

Passport renewal prices set to rise

The UK Government has announced that it plans to increase the fees associated with passport applications.

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The changes, which are subject to approval by parliament, are set to be introduced on Thursday, April 10.

They include standard online applications and postal applications.

Premium service applications, standard online applications from overseas and overseas standard paper applications are also rising.