British travelers are being advised to pay attention to an often-overlooked passport regulation that could prevent them from boarding flights.

Passports issued before a specific date might not meet the criteria for travel across much of Europe due to the European Union’s ’10-year rule’.

This stipulation, introduced following Brexit in January 2021, mandates that passports must be less than 10 years old at the time of entry.

Consequently, up to nine months of additional validity that was previously carried over from an old passport no longer counts when traveling to 26 EU and Schengen Zone countries, with Ireland being the sole exception.

According to reports by The Times, even if a passport has not technically expired, it may still be considered invalid for travel if it was issued over a decade ago.

Those with passports issued post-September 2018 are generally unaffected, as their documents typically have a straightforward 10-year validity. However, individuals with passports dated before this period should verify their documents’ status before planning any trips.

When returning from an EU or Schengen area country, travellers must also have at least three months remaining on their passports from the date they plan to travel home. 

Outside of the EU, the rules vary by country, so it is always worth visiting the gov.uk website for specific entry requirements.

Travellers with passports issued before a certain date might not be valid for travel in much of Europe due to the EU’s ’10-year rule’

For instance, while most countries such as Australia, Canada and the USA just need your passport to be valid for the length of your stay, other countries such as China, Thailand, Egypt and Turkey need at least six months.

The Post Office, in a statement on its website, warned: ‘Different countries have specific entry requirements. If your passport isn’t valid, it could wreak havoc with your travel plans.

‘Since the UK left the European Union in 2020, UK passport holders are now seen as ‘third-country nationals’ by EU and Schengen countries.” 

‘The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries that have eliminated border controls at their mutual frontiers.’

Travellers are advised to first check the date of issue on their passport before flying, and compare it to their scheduled travel dates.

If the document is more than 10 years old on the day travellers plan to arrive in the EU, they will need to renew it as soon as possible to avoid being denied entry. 

Emergency appointments are available at £222 on the UK Government website for those who are unable to push back their travel dates.

Meanwhile, a travel expert has urged holidaymakers to double-check their passports before booking a flight – as she highlights three common mistakes that could cost passengers their entire trip.

Travellers with passports issued after September 2018 will not be affected by the rule as their documents are typically valid for exactly 10 years – but those with passports issued before this date may have to check their validity before flying

Seasoned travellers Lisa and Matt, from the US, often share travel advice, packing hacks, accessory must-haves and insurance tips with their 46,000 followers on Instagram.

In a post uploaded to their page, @readyjetroam, in July, the pair encouraged passengers to check ‘three things right now’ on their passports to ensure they are eligible to fly – or risk being turned away at the airport.

Recounting an experience she had whilst heading to South Africa, Lisa explained she handed her passport to an agent, who informed her she ‘might not have enough blank pages’ for a stamp to enter and leave the country.

Luckily, she was able to locate a few spare pages that hadn’t been marked, but was warned by the agent that some countries, such as South Africa, require each passport-holder to have three untouched pages.