THE passport and immigration office will open later and close earlier from Monday, April 4.

The office, on the ground floor of Government Offices in Bucks Road, Douglas, will be open to the public from 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and from 9.30am to 4pm on Fridays from that date.

Customers using the express services will be able to collect their passports at 4pm Monday to Thursday and at 3.30pm on a Friday.

At present the office opens 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursdays and 9am to 4.30pm on Fridays.

As the office prepares to enter one of its busiest times of year members of the public are being reminded to check the validity of their passports before travelling off-Island.

Senior external relations manager Richard Carter is urging residents to plan ahead and avoid leaving applications and renewals until the last moment.

He said: "People can renew their current passport from nine months before its expiry date without losing those months and days.

"Any time still 'in credit' is simply added to the expiry date of their new passport."

Anyone who wants further information can contact 01624 693222 or 01624 685208 for passport advice, 01624 686283 for nationality general enquiries and 01624 685203 for immigration enquiries.

Anyone who requires assistance while abroad should contact the nearest British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission in the country they are visiting.

Additional guidance and documents such as passport application forms are available on the government website.