British holidaymakers travelling to popular European destinations have been warned to check their passports as new figures show more than one million may not meet entry requirements. Brits entering the EU Schengen zone must possess a passport issued within the past 10 years and with an expiry date at least 3 months beyond their return.
The latest figures indicate that over 705,000 UK passports currently have less than three months’ validity left, which would prevent holidaymakers from boarding their flights. An additional 350,000 were issued over a decade ago, suggesting that more than one million may fail to meet entry criteria for certain international destinations.
The 10-year rule proves especially significant for those whose passports were issued prior to September 2018.
Before that date, when renewing a passport, HM Passport Office was permitted to transfer up to nine months of remaining validity from an expired passport to a replacement one.
HM Passport Office figures demonstrate that 2.37 million passports are set to expire throughout 2026.
Tim Knighton, travel insurance expert at Compare the Market, said: “Many travellers assume if they have a valid passport they can travel overseas without any issues, but that’s not always the case.
“Some countries, including many popular European destinations, require several months’ validity extending beyond the length of a trip, so it’s important to check the entry requirements for each destination before travelling.
“With more than 700,000 UK passports now having less than three months’ validity remaining, it’s worth travellers taking a few minutes to check theirs before heading abroad.
“Renewing a passport early could help avoid unnecessary stress and reduce the risk of holiday plans being disrupted.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
