The passport info you need to know for a smooth 2025 holiday

What do I need to check?

It’s really important to check the expiry date on your passport. You should also check the expiry date on the passport of every person going on holiday with you. Based on new Freedom of Information data obtained by Co-op Insurance from the Passport Office, over one million passports are due to expire between July and December 2025.*

My passport doesn’t expire until after my holiday ends, so I’m OK right?

Not necessarily. Many countries such as the US require a passport to be valid for at least six months beyond the intended departure date to be eligible to travel there. For travel to the EU Schengen Area (including France, Spain and Portugal), passports must be valid for at least three months after the day of departure.

What could happen if my passport is too close to expiry?

If a passport doesn’t meet the entry requirements of the country they’re travelling to, the passport holder won’t be allowed to travel. If this happens, their travel insurance provider will not cover missed flights or cancelled holidays, which can mean losing a significant amount of money in some cases. Research we commissioned shows that 1 in 10 (10%) adults in the UK have missed a holiday due to failing to renew their passport, including almost a quarter (23%) of those under 25.**

What should I do if this applies to me?

You can renew your passport online or by filling in a paper form at a post office. Check the UK government website for more information about renewing an existing passport. This usually takes up to 3 weeks once you apply. If you need your passport renewed urgently there is a faster service, which costs more. You can find out more about urgent passport applications on the UK government website. Remember that your new passport will not have the same number as your old one, and you may need to update this on any bookings you have provided it for. This could mean you pay a fee to change the details, depending on the company.

Is there anything else I should be thinking about before I go?

Yes! Travel Insurance is an essential for travelling. Our research shows many Brits are neglecting their safety abroad. Nearly one in six (15%) admitted to always going on holiday without travel insurance**. The average claim for medical expenses in 2025 so far cost just over £2,500***, so travelling without insurance can put you at significant financial risk. Always make sure you and anyone else in your party are covered before you leave the UK.

Information correct as of 17/07/2025.

*Freedom of Information data obtained by Co-op Insurance from HM Passport Office. 1,249,941 set to expire as of 28 May 2025.

** Data from survey conducted by Opinion Matters and commissioned by Co-op Insurance, with a sample of 2000 Nat Rep

*** Medical expenses claim reported within 2025 (end of May): Average settled claim amount = £2,596.25

Read our press release here.