As you probably know UK passports only last for 10 years when you are an adult but if you plan to fly to certain countries you cannot use the document with less than three months left on the expiry date.

So, if you’re planning to renew your passport anytime soon then you may want to make note of this advice.

New data from the HM Passport Office has revealed the best time to avoid renewing your document.

They found March to be the month to avoid if you’re planning to renew your passport before next summer’s busy holiday period.

In particular, March 17 was the busiest day for submissions in 2023.

The first three months of the year might be best swerved altogether, with the top five made up by another March date, two in January and one in February.

Post-Brexit changes have caught out many British holidaymakers over recent years, with passports having to be valid for more than three months and a new 10-year rule also in place.

With Christmas and the New Year a peak time for booking trips, it means there is often a mad dash to fill out application forms and take new ID photos.

But the HMPO data highlights how it’s well worth planning if you want your new blue passport returned much faster.

Mario Van Poppel, from foreign currency provider Manor FX, which gathered the data via a Freedom of Information request, insists it shows the benefits of being organised when travelling overseas.

He said: “The thought of booking a trip and then realising your passport has run out is a nightmare for most. But it is something that has caught out many people over the years.

“With new rules in place, the importance of getting your passport renewal sorted sooner rather than later has never been more important.

“Unlike getting some last-minute foreign currency, getting a new passport days or even hours ahead of reaching the departure gate is simply not possible.”

The official data showed March 17 last year to be the busiest day for HMPO receiving passport applications since the start of 2022. It was followed by February 1, January 31, March 18 and January 30 all of which were in 2023.

Making up the top 10 were January 29, 2023, March 20 and April 10 this year, plus May 1 and April 27 in 2022.

Van Poppel added: “While it is not always possible to predict the exact date your renewal will be dealt with, there are patterns in this data that show the first three months of the year are definitely the busiest.”

Since leaving the EU, UK citizens travelling to all countries in the single market must have a passport issued less than 10 years before the departure date and valid for three months after the planned return date.

Also included are Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein – but despite being in the EU, Ireland is not.

Passports issued after 2018 are valid for precisely 10 years, but those issued before then could be valid for up to 10 years and nine months due to older rules.

The data also revealed that, unsurprisingly, Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and Boxing Day were the quietest days for passport renewals. Meanwhile, December 23, 18 and 17 were also at the bottom of the rankings for the number of documents received.

The HMPO website states: “You can technically renew your passport at any time. It is generally advised to renew your passport around nine months before your current passport expires.

“This accounts for possible delays or complications. It also gives you peace of mind regarding the six or three-month travel rule that applies to many countries.”