HM Passport Office (HMPO) has issued a fresh warning urging UK travellers to check their passport expiry dates before booking or embarking on summer 2026 trips. The alert, posted on X, emphasises that a simple one-minute check could prevent travel disruption.
Passports issued after September 2018 are valid for exactly 10 years. However, those issued before that date may be valid for up to 10 years and nine months due to an old system that rolled over extra months from previous passports. This means some travellers may hold passports that appear expired but are still valid for non-European travel.
For travel to the Schengen Zone, stricter rules apply: passports must have been issued within the past 10 years from the departure date and remain valid for at least three months beyond the intended return. Additionally, stays in Schengen countries are capped at 90 days within any 180-day period, a change since Brexit.
Travellers with invalid passports risk being refused boarding at the airport. HMPO advises applying for renewals online if needed. The warning comes as holiday bookings for 2026 begin to rise.
