Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert, has warned UK holidaymakers about two crucial passport checks that could prevent them from missing flights. In a clip from ITV's This Morning shared on TikTok, he explained that checking only the expiry date is not enough; travellers must also verify the passport's issue date. Missing either check could result in being turned back at the plane or refused at border control, even if the passport appears valid.
The Two Checks Travellers Must Make
Lewis emphasised that both checks apply on the day of arrival at the destination, not the day of departure from the UK. The first check is the remaining validity: “Do you have six months left on your passport or three months?” he asked. For EU travel, the requirement is three months of remaining validity, but individual country rules must still be confirmed. Having less than six months may be acceptable for some destinations, but travellers need to verify specific requirements.
The second check, which Lewis said catches people out most often, is the passport's age. “Is your passport under 10 years old?” he said. “You could have more than six months left, but your passport be 10 years old, and you can get turned back.” He explained that before 2018, when someone renewed their passport early, extra months from the old passport could be added to the new one, resulting in passports valid for over 10 years. This means a passport can have more than six months remaining but still be over 10 years old, leading to refusal.
Why This Matters for UK Holidaymakers
The financial stakes are significant: flights, accommodation, transfers, activities, and wider holiday costs may all be affected if a passport issue is discovered at the airport rather than before travel. A spokesperson for travel experts Lapland Famille noted, “Martin's two check rule is something every traveller should know before they book, not the night before they fly. The issue date is the one that catches people completely off guard because it simply does not occur to most people to check it.”
Steps to Take Before Flying
Before booking or travelling abroad, UK travellers should:
- Check the passport expiry date.
- Check the passport issue date.
- Work out the passport age on the day they arrive at their destination.
- Confirm the entry requirements for the country they are visiting.
- Renew early if either date is close to the relevant limit.
Both pieces of information are printed on the passport itself—the expiry date shows validity, and the issue date shows when it was produced. For EU travel, the minimum remaining validity is three months, but individual countries may have their own rules. If a passport is approaching 10 years old by the date of arrival, or if the remaining validity is close to the minimum required, renewing before travelling is far simpler than discovering the problem at the airport gate.
“Both dates are right there on the passport, and taking 30 seconds to check them against the entry requirements for a destination could save a holiday from being cancelled before it even begins,” the spokesperson added. “If either date is close to the limit, renew early—it is a far easier problem to solve at home than at the departure gate.”
Passport rules vary by destination, and the 10-year age limit can catch even experienced travellers out. Checking both dates well in advance is the simplest way to reduce the risk of an avoidable and potentially costly airport problem.
