British holidaymakers heading to France, Greece, Italy, and Spain have been urged to check their passports, as new figures show more than one million may not meet entry requirements for the Schengen zone.
Under EU rules, travellers entering the Schengen area must have a passport issued within the past 10 years and with an expiry date at least three months beyond their intended return. The latest analysis of HM Passport Office figures from June 2026 indicates that over 705,000 UK passports currently have less than three months' validity left, which would prevent holders from boarding flights. An additional 350,000 passports were issued more than a decade ago, suggesting more than one million may fail to meet entry criteria for certain international destinations.
Passport renewal backlog
HM Passport Office figures show that 2.37 million passports are set to expire throughout 2026. The 10-year rule proves especially significant for those whose passports were issued before September 2018. Prior to that date, the passport office was permitted to transfer up to nine months of remaining validity from an expired passport to a replacement one. This means some passports might remain technically valid but no longer fulfil the Schengen entry criteria.
Tim Knighton, travel insurance expert at Compare the Market, commented: "Many travellers assume if they have a valid passport they can travel overseas without any issues, but that’s not always the case. Some countries, including many popular European destinations, require several months’ validity extending beyond the length of a trip, so it’s important to check the entry requirements for each destination before travelling."
Check before you fly
"With more than 700,000 UK passports now having less than three months’ validity remaining, it’s worth travellers taking a few minutes to check theirs before heading abroad," Knighton added. "Renewing a passport early could help avoid unnecessary stress and reduce the risk of holiday plans being disrupted."
