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How Long Should My Passport Be Valid For?

Published in Travel Tips & Tricks

How long should my Passport be valid for?
There is nothing more stressful than booking a holiday then realising your passport is expiring soon and you can’t travel to the country you have booked. Or you have to wait for a replacement passport extremely close to your departure date, in today’s culture most countries outside of the EU require up to 6 months on your passport. Only the US, Canada, Australia and the UK will let you in with Passports valid for the duration of your stay. Here is a more in-depth list below;

Australia – valid for duration of stay
Belgium – 3 months
Canada – valid for duration of stay
Dubai – 6 months
Fiji – 6 months
France – 3 months
Germany –3 months
Greece –3 months
Hong Kong – 1 month
India – 6 months (actually they say 180 days) and two blank pages in your passport.
Indonesia – 6 months
Ireland- Valid for the duration of your stay
Italy –3 months
Japan – valid for duration of stay
Malaysia – 6 months
Mexico – 6 months is recommended, although you may be able to have shorter if you can prove your length of stay is over before your passport expires.
Netherlands –3 months
New Zealand – 3 months
Oman – 6 months
Philippines – 6 months
Rarotonga (Cook Islands) – 6 months
Singapore – 6 months
Samoa – 6 months
South Africa – 1 month
Spain3 months
Tahiti – 3 months
Thailand – 6 months
UK – valid for length of stay
USA – 6 months longer than your intended stay Unless your country of origin is exempt from this requirement.
Countries- Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (certificates of identity and passports), Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom. (See full list)
Vanuatu – 6 months
Vietnam – 6 months for visa exemption.

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Fees And Charges

Published in Travel Tips & Tricks

Fees and charges
Credit Card Fees

Provider

 

Spending

 

Withdraw Cash

Interest (APR) if paid off in full

The AA

2.99%

2.99% min. £3

27.9%

Amazon (2)

2.99%

5% min. £5

27.9%

American Express

2.99%

3% min. £3

27.9%

Asda

2.99%

3% min. £5

27.9% - 29.9%

Aqua Reward or Advance

NIL

3% min. £3

39.9% - 59.9%

Bank of Ireland

2.25%

2.5% min. £3

24.9%

Bank of Scotland

2.95%

3% min. £3

18.9% - 25.9%

Barclaycard (1)

2.99%

NIL

None (27.9% - 29.9% if not repaid in full)

Capital One

2.75%

3% min. £3

34.9%

Capital One Aspire Business / Classic Extra

NIL

3% min. £3

19.9% - 34.9%

Clydesdale/Yorkshire

2.95%

3% min. £3

27.9%

The Co-op Bank

2.75%

3% min. £3

25.9%

The Co-op Clear (2)

2.75%

NIL

12.9%

Creation Everyday

NIL

NIL

12.9% - 21.9%

Debenhams

2.75%

3% min. £3

29.9%

Egg (2)

2.95%

3% min. £5

21.9% - 23.9%

First Direct

2.99%

2.99% min. £3

24.7%

Halifax

2.95%

3% min. £3

18.9% - 25.9%

Halifax Clarity

NIL

NIL

18.9% - 25.9%

Halifax Student

2.95%

3% min. £3

19.9%

HSBC

2.99%

2.99% min. £3

23.9% - 24.7%

HSBC Premier

2.99%

2.99% min. £3

18.9%

Lloyds

2.95%

3% min. £3

18.9% - 25.9%

Lloyds Avios Rewards

NIL

3% min. £3

18.9% - 25.9%

Marks & Spencer Bank

2.99%

2.99% min. £3

23.9%

MBNA

2.99%

5%

27.9%

MBNA Everyday Plus

NIL

NIL

7.4% - 12.9%

Nationwide (2)

2%

2.5% min. £3

27.9%

Nationwide Select

NIL

2.5% min. £3

27.9%

NatWest

2.75%

3%

29.9%

Post Office (Matched)

2.99%

2.5% min. £3

27.9%

Post Office (Platinum)

NIL

2.5% min. £3

27.9%

RBS

2.75%

3%

27.9%

Saga

NIL

2% min. £2

None (19.6% if not repaid in full)

Sainsbury's

2.75%

3% min. £3

25.9% - 28.9%

Sainsbury's Gold (3)

NIL

NIL

None (24.9% if not repaid in full)

Santander

2.95%

3% min. £3

29.9%

Santander 123

NIL (4)

 

 

Santander Zero (3)

NIL

NIL

29.9%

Smile

2.75%

3% min. £3

25.9%

Tesco Bank

2.75%

3% min. £3

24.9% - 27.9%

TSB

2.95%

3% min. £3

18.9% - 25.9%

TSB Advance

2.95%

3% min. £3

11.9 %

TSB Avios

2.95%

3% min. £3

17.9% - 25.9%

TSB Premier Avios

2.95%

3% min. £3

13.9%

Virgin Money

2.99%

5% min. £5

27.9%

Virgin Atlantic

2.75%

2%

20.9%

Nationwide Select

NIL

2.5% min. £3

27.9%

NatWest

2.75%

3%

29.9%

Post Office (Matched)

2.99%

2.5% min. £3

27.9%

Post Office (Platinum)

NIL

2.5% min. £3

27.9%

RBS

2.75%

3%

27.9%

Saga

NIL

2% min. £2

None (19.6% if not repaid in full)

Sainsbury's

2.75%

3% min. £3

25.9% - 28.9%

Sainsbury's Gold (3)

NIL

NIL

None (24.9% if not repaid in full)

Santander

2.95%

3% min. £3

29.9%

Santander 123

NIL (4)

 

 

Santander Zero (3)

NIL

NIL

29.9%

Smile

2.75%

3% min. £3

25.9%

Tesco Bank

2.75%

3% min. £3

24.9% - 27.9%

TSB

2.95%

3% min. £3

18.9% - 25.9%

TSB Advance

2.95%

3% min. £3

11.9 %

TSB Avios

2.95%

3% min. £3

17.9% - 25.9%

TSB Premier Avios

2.95%

3% min. £3

13.9%

Virgin Money

2.99%

5% min. £5

27.9%

Virgin Atlantic

2.75%

2%

20.9%

 

UK debit card overseas charges

If you use your debit card overseas, there's usually a non-sterling transaction fee, which will apply to both purchases and ATM withdrawals. You'll also usually be charged a cash machine fee, but there'll be no interest charged as it's taking cash from your current account.

Provider

Non-sterling transaction fee

Cash withdrawal Fee (non-sterling fee will also be charged)

Barclays

2.99%

£1.50 (except Barclays or 'Global Alliance' ATMs)

Bank of Scotland

2.99% + £1 per purchase

1.5% min. £2 max £4.50

Clydesdale/Yorkshire

2.75% min £1.50

3.75% min £1.50

The Co-op Bank

2.75%

2% min. £2

Danske Bank

2.75% + £0.75 per purchase

£1.25 per withdrawal

First Direct 1st Directory

2.75%

NIL

First Direct 1st Direct

2.75%

2% min. £1.75 max £5

Halifax

2.75% + £1.50 per purchase

£1.50 per withdrawal

HSBC

2.75%

2% min. £1.75, max £5

HSBC Premier/Advance

2.75%

NIL

Lloyds

2.99% + £1 per purchase

1.5% min. £2 max £4.50

Lloyds Platinum/Premier

2.99%

1.5% min. £2 max £4.50

Marks & Spencer Bank

2.75%

NIL

Metrobank (Europe)

NIL

NIL

Metrobank (Worldwide)

1.9%

£1

Nationwide

2%

£1

Nationwide FlexPlus

2% on spending. 0% on cash withdrawals

NIL

NatWest

2.75% min. £1 for purchases

2% min. £2, max £5

Norwich & Peterborough Gold Classic (£5/mth fee if you don't pay in £500 or make 5+ transactions)

NIL

NIL

RBS

2.75% min. £1 for purchases

2% min. £2, max £5

Santander

2.75% + £1.25 per purchase

1.5% min. £1.99 (waived if using Santander cash machines in Spain)

Santander Zero

NIL

NIL

Smile

2.75%

2% min. £2

Tesco Bank

2.75%

1%

TSB

2.99% + £1 per purchase

1.5% min. £2 max £4.50

TSB Platinum/Premier

2.99%

1.5% min. £2 max £4.50

Ulster Bank

2.65% + £0.75 per purchase

2.25% min. £2 max £5

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