Rangers fans heading to Seville this week may be confused over the current passport rules.
Thousands of football fans are expected to travel to Spain to see Rangers clash with Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday, May 18, in the Europa League Final.
Travellers heading to the airport to catch a flight this week should check the validity of their passport to avoid being turned away at the gate.
It comes as the Foreign Office issued an important update on passport rules for 33 countries in the EU.
Due to recent confusion, the FCDO issued a clarification of the passport validity rules, updating its advice for countries including Spain.
The new advice reads: "If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements.
"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 (check the ‘expiry date’)
"You must check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date."
The Foreign Office urged people to contact the embassy of the country you are visiting if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements.
People should also renew their passport if you need to.
Spain passport rules
Countries within the Schengen Area require your passport to be no more than 10 years old from the point of issue.
However, most EU countries also require your passport to be valid for at least three months after your date of travel.
- Check that your passport has been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter Spain (check the ‘date of issue’)
- Passports should be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave Spain (check the ‘expiry date’)
- Check your passport before heading to the airport
If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date
It comes as Glasgow Airport has asked passengers travelling this week to expect things to be busy as many will be flying to Seville to watch the Europa League final.
The airport has now asked that travellers arrive to the airport on time and prepared.
The airport requested that travellers book ahead to ensure that parking and lounge bookings are taken care of, minimising possible disruption.
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