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Travelling within the European Union
You might assume that your passport is valid up to the expiry date, but this is not always the case.
Before Brexit, Brits could travel up to and including the expiry date on their passports. But EU regulations now classify UK citizens as ‘third country nationals,’ meaning the rules have changed.
If a UK passport holder wants to visit the EU, they will need a passport:
- which was issued within the previous 10 years. Please note that your passport is only valid for 10 years from the date of issue, ie if any unexpired portion was added on and your passport shows it is in force for 10 years and 3 months, for example, it is not. It is only valid for 10 years from the date of issue.
- is valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave the EU country you are visiting - read on for UK government advice on this.
These requirements apply to the whole Schengen area, which includes most EU countries plus Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland.
Though British citizens can enter the Schengen area with three months of validity on their passports, the UK government recommends that they have six months validity.
This allows a passport holder to travel for 90 days (the maximum number of visa free days a UK citizen can visit Europe in a six month period) and still exit with a valid passport.
What are the passport requirements for Brits travelling outside the EU?
Outside of the EU, passport requirements can be even stricter.
Some countries - including many in Asia and Africa - require UK citizens to have six months of validity on their passports from the date of departure. China, Singapore, and Egypt fall into this category.
In other countries, the rules are far more relaxed. In Japan, Mexico, and Australia, for example, your passport only needs to be valid for the duration of your stay.
Check the specific requirements on the UK Foreign Office website.
Check passport validity - https://mybritishpassport.com/uk-passport-checker/#:~:text=Here%E2%80%99s%20a%20breakdown%20of%20the%20key%20points%3A%201,nine%20years%20and%20nine%20months.%20...%20More%20items
Foreign travel advice - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
