British holidaymakers heading to Europe this summer are being warned to check their passports carefully, as many are still being caught out by post-Brexit rules that could see them denied boarding. Reports indicate that at one UK airport, around half a dozen Brits were being turned away each day due to confusion over the requirements.
The European Union states that for non-EU nationals, including Britons, a passport must be valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the EU, and must have been issued within the last 10 years. This means that on the day of entry into an EU country, the passport must have been issued no more than 10 years ago.
However, a British artist was recently denied boarding by Norwegian Airlines because her passport was issued more than nine years and nine months ago, despite meeting both EU criteria. The Copenhagen police department confirmed that once a passport is nine years and nine months old from the date of issue, it is considered invalid under Schengen rules, as extensions of 10-year passports are not recognised.
Prior to October 2018, Brits renewing their passports could add up to nine months from their previous passport onto the new expiry date. But post-Brexit, EU countries are refusing to accept passports issued more than 10 years ago, even if they are still within their validity period.
Passport fees increased in April 2025, with standard online applications rising from £88.50 to £94.50 for adults and from £57.50 to £61.50 for children. The government stated that the new fees help move towards a system that meets its costs through users, reducing reliance on general taxation.
