IPS issues advice for travellers

People should never book their trips abroad before they have organised their passports, the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has warned.

This is something that the group is "constantly reminding" people to be aware of, according to a spokesperson for the organisation

Commenting on the IPS' role, the representative said: "We aim to return [passport] applications within three weeks of receiving them, providing that the application is straightforward and everything is completed properly with the correct supporting documents, photos and fee."

And in advice to those who do have not received their passport but are going away in less than three weeks, the spokesperson suggested they use the IPS's 24-hour passport advice line where they can make an appointment at one of the offices or utilise the fast-track one-week service or premium first-day services.

The Post Office, which is one place where travellers can apply for travel documentation, suggests that one in five Britons do not know when their passports expire, which leaves them at risk of having their holiday ruined.

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