How do I know if my passport is valid?

The rules around passport validity dates have changed since Brexit, and it’s caused some confusion among travellers, with many believing their passports are valid only to find they do not meet the new criteria meaning they cannot travel.

Step-by-Step Guide to Checking Your Passport’s Validity

As of August 2024, we’ve cut through the noise to explain the changes and help ensure you have everything in place for your journey to go as smoothly as possible. From passport expiry rules and passport validity requirements, this blog will cover everything you need to know ahead of your trip.

Key Passport Validity Requirements

The length of time required on your passport now depends on the country you are visiting. 

The first step will be to check the FCDO travel advice website and look for ‘passport requirements’, which can be found under the ‘entry requirements’ section.

For travel to the EU and Schengen Area countries, your passport must meet two main criteria. We take a look at Spain to explain the changes.

As Spain follows Schengen area rules, The FCDO website states that your passport must be:

• issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’) 
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the country (check the ‘expiry date’) 

Important Clarification on Extra Months

Previously, some UK passports issued before 1st October 2018 had additional months added from an early renewal. These extra months are no longer accepted as valid for entry into EU and Schengen Area countries. The EU only considers the actual issue date, and your passport must fall within the 10-year validity window from that date.

Special Considerations for the Schengen Area and Non-EU Countries

These rules apply to all EU countries (except Ireland) and extend to non-EU countries in the Schengen Area, including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Additionally, starting in 2024, Bulgaria and Romania are expected to join the Schengen Area, which will subject them to the same rules.

Remember, the maximum duration for UK citizens to stay in the Schengen Area is 90 days within any 180-day period.

In addition to the 10-year issue rule, ensure that your passport is valid for at least three months after your planned departure date from the EU. The UK government, however, recommends having six months of validity on your passport for entry into the Schengen area as a precaution to avoid any travel difficulties. If you do not have enough time left on your passport, you will need to renew this before travel.

You can find current passport processing times here.

European Countries that the new rules apply to:

(click on the country to be taken straight to the FCDO entry requirements page)

• Andorra
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• San Marino
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Vatican City

The Passport Six-Month Rule

When planning a holiday, the six-month passport rule is important to consider. This rule requires a passport to be valid for at least six months before a person can travel internationally to certain countries. 

To travel to countries such as Egypt, China and Thailand, your passport must be valid for at least six months. Other countries do not require a passport to be valid for six months, however, it’s always best to check the individual country requirements.

If you choose to travel against Foreign Travel Advice, you won’t be covered by Travel Insurance and may need to pay medical costs out-of-pocket. To avoid being affected by this rule, always make sure your passport is valid for at least six months and read the latest foreign travel advice on the gov.uk website. 

The Passport 10-Year Rule

After the UK left the European Union, passport requirements and entry rules changed. As a result, UK passport holders are now seen as ‘third-country nationals’ by Schengen countries and the EU. 

To summarise the changes: 

• Passports issued after 2018 are valid for 10 years. 
• To travel to Europe and Schengen countries, your passports must be issued less than 10 years before departure. 

What happens if I lose my passport on holiday?

Don’t forget to arrange your Travel Insurance before you travel and remember, your policy provides cover should you lose your passport while abroad, meaning you may be able to recover the costs of obtaining a new one to enable your return home.

How can I check my passport’s validity online for travel to the EU?

To check your passport’s validity online for an EU trip, visit the official FCDO website or use a trusted passport expiry checker tool to confirm that your passport adheres to the 10-year issuance and 3-month post-departure validity rules.

This page was last updated in accordance with FCDO advice on 12/08/24