Brits issued warning to avoid pets damaging passports

Brits are being warned to look after the “important” travel document and to keep it away from their pets, especially if they’re expecting a new one through the post.

In a post on X, warning passport holders, it said: “If you’re expecting your new passport, keep an eye out… and keep it out of reach of curious paws!

“Your passport is important — and definitely not chew‑toy approved.”

If you have a new passport arriving, it’s worth keeping your postal deliveries away from pets until you receive it, as a chewed-up passport will mean you’ll need to buy another one.

Anyone with a passport in their house may also wish to keep the passport away from pets in case it gets damaged.

A damaged passport can result in extra costs for replacement, and trips could even be put on hold.

When is a passport considered damaged?

If your dog, or other pet, gets hold of your passport, you might wonder how much damage you can get away with.

To help you out, the government website has shared a list of conditions that will not be accepted.

Your passport is damaged if:

• you can’t 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
• there are stains, like ink or water damage, on the pages

The new EU Entry and Exit System explained

How much does it cost to renew a damaged passport?

If you replace an adult passport online, you can expect to pay £102.

Applying by post will cost £115.50, which can be paid by a debit or credit card or via cheque to HM Passport Office.

How much do passports cost now?

The news comes following an increase in passport prices, which came into effect on April 8.

Here are the new prices:

Standard online application:

• For adults – £102 (up from £94.50)
• For children – £66.50 (up from £61.50)

Standard postal application:

• For adults – £115.50 (up from £107)
• For children – £80 (up from £74)

A Premium Service (one day) application made from the UK will cost £239.50, up from £222.

Do I need travel insurance?

Recommended reading:

How long does it take to get a new passport?

The government asks Brits to apply for a passport “in good time before travelling”.

It added: “In 2025, where no further information was required, 99.7% of standard applications from the UK were processed within three weeks.”

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