British holidaymakers travelling to the European Union must check a specific date on their passports – the issue date – or risk being turned away at the airport. Under EU rules, it is not enough for a passport simply to be unexpired.
EU entry requirements for British passports
To enter the EU, a passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the date of entry into the EU country. It must also be valid for at least three months after the day the traveller plans to leave the EU. Passports that fail to meet these requirements risk refusal at the airport, as EU countries do not allow travellers from outside the bloc to enter if their passport was issued more than 10 years before the date of travel.
This marks a significant change since the UK left the EU, as Brits previously enjoyed longer validity periods on their passports. That is no longer the case, and the rules are constantly catching travellers out.
Check if your passport was issued before September 2018
Travellers should check whether their passport was issued before September 2018, when the EU rules changed, or after that date. If a passport was issued more than 10 years ago and the holder plans to travel to the EU, it will need to be renewed.
A Skyscanner spokesperson warned: "If your passport was issued before September 2018 (when the rules changed), it’s super important to take note. Basically, under old regulations, up to nine months could be carried over from an old passport. This stopped in September 2018."
"So if your passport was issued before then, it may appear valid for longer than a decade. This is still OK for travel outside the EU, but it will prevent travel to much of Europe as you approach the 10-year mark. If your passport has been issued after September 2018, it will have a cap of 10 years, which means you won’t face any issues."
Renewal advice for travellers
The flight comparison website advised travellers to renew passports at least six months before they expire and to check the specific entry requirements for EU countries on the government’s website. Passports can be renewed or replaced through the government website, with the process usually taking around three weeks, though it may take longer during busy travel periods.
