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PA Media
UK passport applications postponed by a backlog brought on by the coronavirus pandemic will be sped up if people are due to go on holiday within 2 weeks, the Office has said.
Passport renewals will be provided within five days for people waiting more than 4 weeks who produce evidence they are to ready to travel.
More than 400,000 files are still being processed because of less staff.
Officials say they will likewise continue to prioritise emergency cases.
They stated more than 6,500 passports had been released to individuals on compassionate and emergency situation grounds throughout the lockdown.
The Passport Office stated it acknowledged an increasing number of individuals who did not satisfy the “immediate and thoughtful requirements” would want their passport more quickly as global travel limitations continued to ease, “especially those with pre-existing reservations”.
It follows the UK federal government stated more than 50 countries – consisting of numerous popular vacation spots – now postured “a reduced danger” from coronavirus.
But individuals who wish to go on vacation abroad are being cautioned not to book journeys unless they have an updated passport. Those who do not need to restore their passports yet are being urged to wait until after the summer.
Earlier today the Home Office revealed that passport personnel were resolving 126,000 applications, with an additional 284,000 still to be processed.
Ministers stated the backlog had built up because passport offices had less employees due to social distancing guidelines.
The Passport Workplace said security checks meant the procedure would take longer for individuals getting a passport for the first time however staff were “striving to ensure that anybody with pre-planned travel does not lose out if their passport application has actually been submitted correctly and in good time”.
It added that abroad candidates who had experienced delays and had to use to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for emergency travel documents would have the ability to claim refunds.
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