Passport peak: avoid travel stress, apply for your new passport on time
The sun is showing itself more and more often and maybe you are already musing about a wonderful holiday. About a May holiday under the Spanish sun, a summer holiday in Denmark or simply enjoying your own country. In any case, many of us often look forward to it.
Check the validity of your passport
But imagine this: the time has come, the holidays have started and you are about to leave for a foreign country and discover that your passport has expired... Holiday plans in the water and a big bummer for you or even the whole family. Unfortunately, this happens more often than you think.
Renew passport? This is the busiest period
Carin van de Voort, Civil Affairs employee, sees it happen every year. “Most ID cards and passports are applied for between March and July,” she says. This has been the case for years: during this period, many people prepare for their holidays.
“So there is a big passport surge coming as we call it here”
Long waiting times and annoying situations
Precisely to spread this rush well over the year, the municipality asks residents to apply for a new passport or ID card on time. “Otherwise, you may just have to wait much longer than usual for your new passport,” says Carin. And you won't be the first to lose a passport and only find out at the last minute.
Being late with a passport application, apart from a holiday cancellation, sometimes results in distressing situations, Carin knows. “Sometimes, someone has to go abroad suddenly, for instance in case of a death in the family. Then they find out that their passport is no longer valid and they cannot leave immediately,” she explains. “Also, people sometimes forget that they cannot enter every country with an ID card. That happened a lot when Britain left the European Union, for example.”
What does the municipality do?
To help residents renew their passports or apply for ID cards on time, the Municipality of Apeldoorn is taking several measures:
- Residents will receive a reminder by letter or postcard when their travel document expires.
- Additional counters at City Hall to better cope with crowds.
- Posts on social media and posters in smart places around the city.
Still, it remains difficult to predict how many people will apply at the same time. Therefore, the advice is: don't wait too long!
Check your passport and make an appointment
Already busy planning your May or summer holidays? Check today whether your passport or ID card is still valid for a while. Making an appointment at the Municipality of Apeldoorn is easy!
Make your appointment for a new passport here
Make your appointment for a new ID card here
This will help you avoid stress and go on a worry-free trip!
Many travel documents were collected again last year. Check out the figures here:
News
- A first for the Netherlands: Apeldoorn is trialling deposit-return machines at recycling points near shopping centres
- Apeldoorn introduces the ‘Blauwe Druppel’ for rainwater drainage
- Exhibition by Verenigde Apeldoorners on display at the Theehuis from 9 July
- Residents of the Waleweingaarde emergency shelter have been temporarily relocated
Background and depth on living and experiencing in municipality of Apeldoorn.
