UK passport rule changes are a reminder that not all travel risk looks the same

The recent changes to UK passport entry requirements have caught many travellers off guard, triggering a wave of questions across the travel industry. For agents and insurers alike, it’s a timely reminder that some of the most disruptive travel issues aren’t medical or dramatic. They’re administrative, and they can derail a trip just as quickly.

Recent guidance from the British High Commission has further clarified how these rules will apply, particularly for dual British citizens and travellers relying on Electronic Travel Authorisations. The volume of follow-up information and FAQs reflects just how confusing entry requirements can become, even for travellers who believe they are doing the right thing.

At Go Insurance, scenarios like this were front of mind when we created Cancel For Your Reason (CFYR).

When disruption doesn’t fit the usual boxes

Traditional travel insurance is built around defined, insured events. Things like unexpected illness, injury, or severe weather.

Why passport and visa issues are usually not covered under standard policies?

Most standard travel insurance policies are designed to respond to unforeseen events such as illness, injury, or severe weather. Issues relating to passports, visas, or entry requirements will typically fall outside these triggers, even when the traveller believes their documents are valid.

In many cases, being unable to travel due to an entry requirement issue isn’t considered an insured event under traditional cancellation cover. This often comes as a surprise to travellers, particularly when rules change after a trip has been booked.

Passport rule changes sit squarely in that space.

Why CFYR was created

CFYR was designed to address this exact gap. Not to replace standard cancellation cover, but to sit alongside it and provide an additional layer of flexibility when plans change for reasons that matter to the traveller.

As Mark Fuller, CEO of Go Insurance, explains:

“Travel risk isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s paperwork, policy changes, or rules that shift after you’ve booked. CFYR exists for those moments where the reason for cancelling is completely reasonable, but doesn’t neatly fit into a traditional insurance definition.”

That flexibility can be particularly relevant for travellers booking far in advance, travelling on complex itineraries, or committing to high-value trips where the financial impact of cancelling is significant.

What this means for travel agents

This isn’t about encouraging cancellations, nor is it about positioning CFYR as a solution to a specific passport issue.

It’s about helping travellers understand that not all risks are insurable under standard triggers, and that optional benefits like CFYR exist for those who want greater control and certainty.

For agents working with travellers booking right now, particularly those raising questions or concerns off the back of recent passport rule changes, this may be a timely opportunity to explain how different types of cancellation cover work and where flexibility options sit.

The key is keeping the conversation factual:

• Encourage travellers to check entry requirements early and regularly
• Help them understand what their policy does and doesn’t cover
• Make them aware that flexibility options like CFYR exist, without recommending or advising

In a world where travel rules continue to evolve, informed travellers are better travellers.

And flexibility, when chosen deliberately, can make all the difference.