The Foreign Office has issued an update on passport validity rules for 33 countries, reminding British holidaymakers of post-Brexit requirements for travel to Schengen Area nations such as Spain, Portugal, France, and Croatia.
Under the current rules, passports must be no more than 10 years old from the date of issue, and must be valid for at least three months after the intended date of travel. The Foreign Office warns that some travellers have been unable to board flights because their documents did not meet these criteria.
The updated advice applies to EU countries (except Ireland), as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. Passports issued before 1 October 2018 may have extra months added to their expiry date, which could affect validity.
The Foreign Office advises travellers to check their passport well in advance, as renewal delays of up to 10 weeks have been reported due to a backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Holidaymakers are urged to consult the embassy of their destination if they have any doubts.
