Passports and Visas
Everyone knows you need a passport to travel overseas but it is surprising how many people leave it to the last minute to apply for one, or suddenly realise that it will run out halfway through their trip. Even if your passport is valid until after your proposed date of return it may be necessary to apply for a new one: some countries, including Australia and Thailand, require a passport to be valid for a period of time beyond the length of your intended stay. This varies from three to six months, but to be on the safe side it is best to have twelve months leeway just to prevent any unnecessary hassle.
Full details of UK passport offices can be found on the Web at www.ukpa.gov.uk. The contact telephone number for all of the UK offices is the general Adviceline on 0870 521 0410.
London Passport Office
Globe House
89 Eccleston Squre
London
SW1V 1PN
Liverpool Passport Office
101 Old Hill Street
Liverpool
L3 9BD
Newport Passport Office
Olympia House
Upper Dock Street
Newport
Gwent
NP20 1XA
Peterborough Passport Office
Aragon Court
Northminster Road
Peterborough
PE1 1QG
Glasgow Passport Office
3 Northgate Hampton House
96 Milton Street
Cowcaddens
Glasgow
G4 0BT
Belfast Passport Office
47-53 High Street
Belfast
BT1 2QS
Durham Passport Office
Millburngate House
Durham
DH97 1PA
Application forms can be obtained from the Post Office and most travel agents.
Getting Visas
Visas are the magic stamps in your passport which allow you to enter and leave foreign countries. Although you do not need them for EU member states (and in some instances the USA and certain Eastern Bloc countries) you will for most other countries. Visas invariably cost money so you will have to include this in your travel budget.
What Type of Visa?
- Tourist - you can enter a country once, for a specified period.
- Re-entry - you can go back to a country you have already visited.
- Multiple entry - you can go back more than once, within a specified period of time.
