UK holidaymakers heading to the European Union are being warned about the '10-year passport rule', which has already caused many to be refused boarding. Since Brexit, EU countries require passports issued less than 10 years before the departure date, even if the passport has not yet expired.
Nathan Barnes, a 31-year-old paramedic from Norwich, was stopped at the departure gate on a flight to France despite checking in online and passing security. 'My passport had been issued more than 10 years previously,' he said. 'I was gutted, surprised really.'
Jane Opher, a 61-year-old architect from London, faced a similar ordeal when flying to Barcelona. Her passport, issued on 10 February 2014, was valid until 10 August 2024, but she was refused boarding because it was over 10 years old. 'It was very stressful - I was traumatised,' she said.
The rule applies to all EU countries, as well as Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, but not Ireland. Passports issued before September 2018 may have up to nine months added from an old passport, making them valid for up to 10 years and nine months, but still invalid for EU travel if issued more than 10 years ago.
Rory Boland, travel editor at Which?, urged travellers to check their passport validity when booking, not at the airport. Simon Calder of The Independent estimated that 'easily a couple of hundred people a day' are turned away, potentially affecting over 100,000 people annually. He called on airlines to do more to warn passengers.
