Red passport rule explained to any Brit who still owns one after urgent warning issued

As we edge closer and closer to Christmas, it's clear a lot of us are packing our suitcases and getting ready to fly elsewhere to visit family, meet up with mates or simply jet off to somewhere more glamorous to bring in the festivities with a bang.

However, anyone still in possession of a red passport has been issued an urgent warning on a rule which you really don't want to ignore.

But what does this rule mean and how can you make sure you're not met with a major disappointment the next time you book a holiday?

Double-check your passport before you jet off for the holidays this year (Getty Stock Image)

Why has the rule changed?

Now, the whole travelling process for Brits changed quite a lot since the UK left the European Union (EU) back in 2020.

Because of this, British citizens can no longer use the border control lanes for EU citizens when they visit any of the 29 countries that form part of the Schengen area - which is the area of Europe that allows people to freely travel between its member countries.

The Schengen Zone is 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.

Make sure your passport is line with the '10-year rule' (Getty Stock Image)

What is the '10-year passport rule'?

Since the UK bid farewell to the EU, passports must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you enter the Schengen Zone.

And it’s very important to ensure your passport meets this criteria, as it could lead to you being denied entry to the country you’ve planned to visit.

So, what is the '10-year passport rule'?

It basically means that, in order to enter EU countries (aside from the exceptions listed above), your UK passport now needs to have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the EU country (or the 'date of issue') and must also be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave (the 'date of expiry').

How to check if your passport is in line with the rule?

In short, take a look at the date your passport was issued to see if it was issued before September 2018.

Also, make sure your passport has not passed its 10-year anniversary as you need your passport to have been issued less than 10 years before your departure date.

If you find your passport doesn't meet these requirements, it's best to act speedy and renew your document as it can take several weeks to process in busy times.

You don't need to worry if you've got a UK passport that has been issued since 2018 as the cap of 10 years means you will not face any issues.