Stefania Sarrubba
As more people are eyeing a well-deserved holiday getaway this festive season, Brits have been urged to check whether their passports meet the requirements to travel.
Passports issued before September 2018 may get some travellers in trouble if used to reach certain destinations.
Some of these older passports may appear to be valid for longer than ten years, which is the normal validity window for most passports.
Prior to leaving the EU, it was possible for UK travellers to carry up to nine months from an old passport over to a new one, thus meaning that a passport could technically have a validity of more than ten years.
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While outside much of Europe, the document is still valid, in most EU countries, a passport with an extended validity won’t get you very far.
Brits have to make sure their older, red passports have been issued less than 10 years before the date they enter the country when travelling within the EU. The only exceptions to the ‘ten-year passport rule’ are Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland.
On top of this, to be in tip-top shape to travel around the EU, your passport must expire at least after three months following your planned departure date from the country you’re visiting.
Those holding passports issued since 2018 will notice they have a cap of ten years, so they don't apply for this caveat.
To make sure your next trip goes as smoothly as possible and you’re not refused boarding, it’s a good idea to check your expiry date. If issued before September 2018, double-check the document hasn’t passed its ten-year anniversary and allow for at least a three-month validity window from your planned departure date from the EU.
However, even if it appears that your passport has still enough months left to travel, it could still be invalid to reach some EU countries (aside from the exceptions listed above) if it was issued more than ten years before the date you enter the country.
If you realise your passport won’t allow you to travel to most of the EU, it means you need to renew it and save yourself the hassle next time.
Bear in mind that a passport can take up to three weeks from the UK, and during busy times, it can take longer, so you may want to prepare well in advance.
You can renew your passport online at HM Passport Office or through a paper application.
If you’ve only just found out your passport is invalid and your trip is sooner rather than later, you can try your luck booking an emergency appointment online at your nearest passport office, taking advantage of their one-day and one-week fast track services.