You will need a valid passport for almost every trip abroad, even within the European Community. Other documentation may also be required depending on your destination - ask your travel agent or the airline with which you are travelling about the documents you will need and, if necessary, for visa application forms. If you do not have a valid passport, you will be unable to obtain a refund for your ticket when you are refused access to the flight. For many countries outside the European Community you will also need a visa and possibly inoculation certificates.

If your passport is lost or has been stolen, it is important that you report this to the UK Passport Service (UKPS) as soon as possible in order to help prevent future misuse of your document. To do this you must submit a lost/ stolen (LS01) report form to the UKPS, available at www.ukpa.gov.uk or by calling 0870 521 0410.

Please note that you will no longer be able to legally use a passport once it has been formally reported as lost or stolen and subsequently cancelled. If this passport later comes into your possession you must return it to the UKPS. You will not be able to use it for travel or identification purposes and may be detained by immigration or police authorities if you try to do so.