A quarter-of-a-million travellers with valid passports might find themselves grounded this summer because of EU rules.
Schools break up for the summer holiday this week, but figures obtained from the Passport Office indicate that 254,316 holidaymakers do not conform to the post-Brexit rules for entering the EU, Co-op Insurance reports.
As of May 26, 2023, the HM Passport Office confirmed that this is the total number of passport-holders with a valid expiration date of more than 10 years since the date of issue.
The data was gathered as part of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Passport Office, by Co-op Insurance.
Travellers trying to go to the Schengen zone will be turned away at the boarding gates if their UK passport has been issued more than 10 years ago.
Since the UK left the EU, UK passports now cannot be more than 10 years old when used to travel to the EU.
This means you must check the date the passport was issued, as well as when it expires.
The majority of people assume that an adult passport lasts 10 years. However, extra months might have been added to its expiry date if the previous passport was renewed before it fully expired.
According to Co-op Insurance, 77 per cent of travel policies purchased so far in 2023 have been for a European destination, with a 32 per cent increase in travel policies sold, compared to last year.
Graham Ward-Lush, head of travel at Co-op Insurance, says: “For many years, travellers renewing their passport before the previous one expired were able to carry over any remaining time left. Before September 2018, a maximum of nine months could be added to the replacement’s 10-year length — meaning passports could be valid for as long as 10 years and nine months.
“Passengers may look at their passport, see that it does not expire until well after their return, and believe all is well. However, we urge travellers to check the date of issue. If the passport is more than 10 years old on the day of entry, they will not be allowed in.
“There can’t be a more heart-breaking scenario than unearthing a passport the night before travel, only to realise that it is out of date. We want to help ensure that people all over the UK manage to have their dream holiday this summer and aren’t stranded at home due to invalid travel documentation!”
Passports can be renewed for a cost of £82.50, or via a paper form at the Post Office for £93.
Meanwhile, the one-week fast-track service costs £155 for a basic adult passport, and £126 for a child passport.
