Easter is a popular time to reunite with friends and family, but with Portugal in the global top 10 for lost UK passports last year, the British Embassy is advising holidaymakers and residents to take good care of their passports.
Warning your guests to be vigilant and look after their passports could save them needless stress, time and money while on their Easter holidays. Suggesting they watch a new Foreign Office video on YouTube entitled “Enjoy your holiday” is another way to raise their awareness of the risk. CLICK HERE to watch video.
Nearly 500 emergency passports, also known as ETDs, were issued to British nationals in Portugal last year as a result of lost and stolen passports. Obtaining an ETD typically requires a visit to the nearest British Consulate – which may be some distance away – and the payment of the euro equivalent to 95 pounds.
“Remind your visitors to look after their passports in order to avoid the frustrating consequences of a theft”, says Simona Demuro, British Consul to Portugal. “If you need to carry your passport, keep it in a money belt under your clothes rather than in a handbag or rucksack and never leave passports in your car.”
Apartment or villa break-ins (32%) and car break-ins (27% of all passport thefts) are the biggest causes of stolen passports in Portugal, followed by bag theft (15%).
Information on what to do if your passport is lost or stolen or if you need to travel in an emergency can be found at www.gov.uk/emergency-travel-document.
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