Families are facing uncertainty about upcoming holidays to the United Kingdom as they await processing of British passport applications and contend with delivery delays.
British Passport Requirements for Travel
In three weeks, all UK citizens globally will be required to travel with a British passport or an endorsement (COE) when visiting the UK, a change from the previous allowance for dual citizens to use alternative passports.
Sue Sands, of Te Kuiti, who left Britain as a baby, is preparing for her first return trip with her partner next month to visit family. She was unaware of her British citizenship and is now applying for her first British passport.
“I was born in England and came out here as a baby. And so consequently, I’ve never thought about being a British citizen because I already had my New Zealand citizenship and passport,” Sands said. “This is the first chance in 67 years to go back and see what family’s left over there. So we’re going to London for about a week, and then Jersey for a couple of weeks where my half-sister lives.”
Her plans hinge on timely passport delivery. Otherwise, she may have to travel to France and then to Jersey using her New Zealand passport and an ETA, missing the opportunity to see family in London, including an 88-year-old uncle.
Insurance Cover
Changing flight destinations and dates also incurs additional costs. The Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman has warned travelers to verify both the new UK passport rules and their travel insurance policies.
“Travel insurance usually won’t cover situations where a traveller doesn’t meet passport or visa requirements and can’t travel,” said ombudsman Karen Stevens. “We commonly see travel insurance claims declined because of this. If someone can’t board a flight because they don’t have the correct passport or visa, that can turn out to be a very expensive situation.”
New Zealanders without British citizenship also need to be aware of the requirement for an ETA before flying, which has been in force since last year, and upcoming changes to European Union (EU) requirements, expected later this year.
“These are new, unfamiliar requirements, and it’s understandable travellers may not be aware of them,” Stevens said. “Airlines won’t generally make their customers aware of entry and passport requirements, it really is the responsibility of the traveller to make sure they know what they need.”
Delivery times
New Zealand-based Britons have reported delays in passport applications, with tracking information indicating hold-ups in Auckland despite using the $121 fast-track service. Some have experienced positive outcomes, with one applicant receiving a renewal in 16 days.
Sands sent her application on January 23 and it reached Auckland swiftly, but remained there until the following Friday before entering the DHL system and being delivered to the UK passport office. She was told to expect a four-week processing time, plus return delivery time, potentially receiving the passport a week before her scheduled flight.
NZ Post has not responded to questions regarding current delivery timeframes or increased demand. The company stated that incomplete customs declarations can cause delays, though those who contacted RNZ reported no issues with their submissions.
“Sensitive documents like passports and passport applications are treated as restricted items when being sent overseas, including to the UK,” said a spokeswoman. “This means passports and passport applications must be sent through our express service, to make sure these important documents remain as safe as possible throughout the journey. This is our most secure service with regular tracking notifications provided and the cost to send reflects this.”
“We’re focused on getting these documents delivered safely, as quickly as possible. However, in order for us to do this it’s essential that customers correctly complete their customs declarations and provide all the information required – including a recipient phone number and an accurate contents description. Unfortunately, incomplete customs declarations can cause delays, as NZ Post needs to contact senders to make sure the correct information is captured.”
NZ Post is reminding its stores about the specific requirements for international mail to minimize delays.
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