Britons have been given fresh guidance on visiting Italy. Holidaymakers have been told what to do in the event their passport is lost or stolen.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told Britons: “If your passport is lost or stolen, you must renew your passport or apply for an emergency travel document.”
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“HM Passport Office will consider your passport damaged if you cannot read any of your details, any of the pages are ripped, cut or missing, there are holes, cuts or rips in the cover, the cover is coming away, or there are stains on the pages (for example, ink or water damage).”
For those who must attend an interview, video interviews are taking place online. The FCDO said: “If you need an interview, you’ll be contacted after your application has been processed to book it.”
Britons can replace their passports online. The UK Government provides a service for doing so online, for £88.50.
The FCDO said: “You’ll need a digital photo and a credit or debit card. You’ll need to ask someone to confirm your identity online if you’re replacing a lost or stolen passport.” The service is also available in Welsh.
Alternatively, Britons can replace their lost or stolen passports using a paper application form.
Holidaymakers were advised: “You can get a paper application form by either going to the Post Office or calling the Passport Adviceline.
“It costs £100. You can pay by either debit or credit card – fill in the form in the application pack – or cheque – made payable to ‘HM Passport Office’. You’ll need two new and identical printed photos of yourself.
“You can use the Post Office Check and Send service if you’re using a paper form. The address to send it to is on the form.
“You need to get your application form and one of your photos signed by someone else to prove your identity.”
It’s also possible for Britons to travel urgently from abroad without their UK passport with an emergency travel document.
The FCDO said: “An emergency travel document lets you travel from abroad if you need to travel urgently and cannot use your UK passport. It is usually only valid for one single or return journey. You can travel through a maximum of five countries.
“You can apply for an emergency travel document if all the following apply: you’re a British national, you’re outside the UK, you need to travel within six weeks, your UK passport has been lost, stolen, damaged, is full, has recently expired or is with HM Passport Office or a foreign embassy, you cannot renew or replace your UK passport from abroad before you travel, and you have had a valid UK passport in the last 10 years.
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‘If your passport is lost or stolen, you must renew your passport or apply for an emergency travel document’
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The FCDO offered guidance for those who have not held a UK passport in the last 10 years. Britons were told: “If you have not had a UK passport before or you had one that expired more than 10 years ago, you’ll usually need to apply for a UK passport instead of an emergency travel document.
“You might be able to get an emergency travel document if all the following apply: you have, or are eligible for, British nationality, you’re outside the UK, you need to travel within six weeks, and you have an urgent and unplanned reason to travel due to exceptional circumstances.
“Exceptional circumstances may include if: your child was born unexpectedly, you need urgent medical treatment that you cannot access without travel to another country, or you wish to attend the funeral of a close relative.
“If you have never held a UK passport, or have not held one in the last 10 years, you cannot get emergency travel documents for activities such as holidays, weddings, family events and job interviews.
“You’ll have to explain and provide evidence to show why your journey is urgent and essential. Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.”
Britons travelling to Italy should ensure they consult Government guidance for warnings and insurance notices, entry requirements, safety and security, health, and getting help in the event of an emergency.”