TUI has issued an urgent warning to holidaymakers that passports that appear to be valid can still be refused for entry to certain destinations under current government travel rules.
The reminder comes as the summer holidays peak, with the travel company stressing that anyone caught with an expired or invalid passport could be denied entry into their destination.
Key passport requirements for Europe
British travellers heading to Europe or the Schengen area, including popular spots like Greece, Italy and Spain, must ensure their passports meet two requirements: it must have been issued less than 10 years before the date of entry, and it must be valid for at least three months after the planned departure date.
TUI warned: "A passport can still show a future expiry date but fail the 10-year rule if extra months were added when it was renewed. This catches out many travellers every year."
Schengen area countries and passport checker
The Schengen area includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
TUI offers a free passport checker on its website to help travellers see if their UK passport meets the requirements for their destination, including travel to the EU or Schengen area.
Additional advice and EES rollout
TUI also advised Brits to "always check the latest government advice," noting that entry requirements can vary and may change. They said: "Before you travel, please check the latest advice from the UK Government."
Following the full rollout of the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) earlier this year, TUI warned that at some airports, longer queues might still be found, particularly at busy travel periods. They advised allowing extra time at border control, keeping essential medication in hand luggage, heading straight to passport control after dropping bags, and bringing extra water for comfort.
For more information on the EES or passport validity, visit the TUI website. Further travel advice, including passport validity for destinations outside Europe, is available on the government travel advice page.
