Holidaymakers travelling to France, Greece, Italy and Spain have been urged to make a crucial passport check to ensure they can board their planes this holiday season.
Those entering the EU Schengen area must ensure their passport was issued less than ten years before the start of the trip and has an expiry date at least three months after the return.
Analysis of new HM Passport Office data from June 2026 show that more than 705,000 UK passports currently have fewer than three months’ validity remaining.
A further 350,000 were issued more than a decade ago, meaning more than one million could fail entry requirements for some holiday hotspots.
Brits are often caught out by the 10-year rule as before 2018, when renewing a passport, HM Passport Office could add up to nine months of unused validity from an old passport to a new one.
This means some passports may still be in date however not meet the Schengen entry requirements.
The data further showed that 2.37 million passports are due to expire during 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
