UK holidaymakers heading to the EU are being warned about the 'passport 10-year rule' that has caught many travellers off guard since Brexit. Under the new rules, EU countries will not accept UK passports issued more than 10 years ago, even if they have not officially expired.
Previously, UK travellers could carry over up to nine months from an old passport to a new one, meaning some passports were valid for up to 10 years and nine months. However, post-Brexit, this is no longer recognised by EU member states, as well as Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, but not Ireland.
One affected traveller is Nathan Barnes, a 31-year-old paramedic from Norwich, who was refused boarding on a flight to France despite checking in online and passing through security. 'My passport had been issued more than 10 years previously,' he said. 'They were very matter of fact about it, they just said 'sorry you can't board, off you pop'.'
Jane Opher, a 61-year-old architect from London, was also denied boarding on a flight to Barcelona because her passport was issued on 10 February 2014, more than ten years ago, though it does not expire until 10 August 2024. She described the experience as 'very stressful' and 'humiliating'.
Rory Boland, Travel Editor at Which?, advises travellers to check their passport validity and expiry date when booking their holiday, not at the airport. Simon Calder, travel correspondent at the Independent, estimates that 'easily a couple of hundred people a day' are being turned away, potentially over 100,000 per year.
Travellers whose passports are invalid can apply for an emergency appointment at a passport office offering fast-track services, or renew online, which can take up to three weeks. Airlines have been urged to do more to warn passengers about the rule.
