That’s the question being posed by the Isle of Man Passport Office as it gears up for its busiest time of the year.

Passport processing is currently taking six weeks, so anyone planning to travel abroad this summer is advised to make sure their documentation is in order well in advance.

The reminder is being issued to help avoid situations where Island residents preparing to go on holiday cannot find their passport or discover that it is out of date.

Senior External Relations Officer Richard Carter said: ‘People often leave their passports in drawers or cupboards at home and forget about them until the days leading up to their holiday. We are urging everyone to make a conscious effort to seek out their passports and check they are valid. Taking a couple of minutes now could potentially save a lot of unnecessary stress later.’

He added: ‘We would also strongly advise Island residents not to confirm any travel arrangements until all their documentation is in place. The summer months represent the busiest period for the Passport Office in terms of handling applications, so people are encouraged to plan ahead to avoid any last minute difficulties. Even if you don’t have any firm travel commitments this summer, it is still advisable to check your passport and plan accordingly if it is due for renewal in the near future.’

Anyone who discovers their passport is out of date, and requires a passport by a certain date, may be able to take advantage of a five working days or same-day service, which are available at extra cost subject to certain conditions being met.