All the passport rules you NEED to know now to stop your summer holidays being ruined or even cancelled

The Sun

25-07-2025

THESE are all the passport rules that you need to know.
Thousands of Brits were affected by mistakes which ruined their holidays last year.
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Many UK holidaymakers were turned away from the airport gates last year because they were unaware about a simple but costly error.
According to travel expert Alpine Elements, people are unaware of strict passport rules when travelling abroad, particularly to countries outside the EU.
Last year alone, hundreds of people were either refused boarding or entry despite holding valid passports.
This caused honeymoons to be ruined, cruises to be missed, and thousands of pounds were lost in non-refundable costs.
The 6-month validity rule
Some destinations require UK passports to have at least six months left before the expiry date on arrival.
So even though your passport may still be active, many border agents in countries will not let you though, even if they don't require a visa.
Popular destinations that enforce this rule include: Dubai and the UAE, Thailand, Indonesia (including Bali), Turkey and Egypt
The spokesperson from Alpine Elements explained: "It's a harsh rule but widely enforced. It catches a lot of people out because they assume no visa means no problem."
Not just about expiry
However, some countries also base their entry rules on the date that the passport was issued.
Within the EU's Schengen Zone, UK travellers must have a passport that was issued within the last 10 years AND at least 3 months left before expiry on the return date.
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Alpine Elements explained that the first condition has caught many UK residents off guard.
They spokesperson explained: "People renew passports early, but if the new passport carries over old months, some airlines or border officials won't accept it."
Alpine Elements added that this was especially common with UK passports issued before September 2018.
Real stories of ruined holidays
Last summer, a couple from Leeds missed out on their honeymoon to Bali which they paid £5,000 for.
The airline staff refused to check them in as their passports only had five months and three weeks left.
This was just short of the six-month rule that is in force by Indonesia.
An additional family was denied boarding to Dubai after discovering their passports were over 10 years old.
This was also despite having four months left before their travel documents experied.
The spokesperson from Alpine Elements added: "People don't realise airlines can deny boarding based on destination entry rules. You don't even get to argue your case at immigration — you're stopped before take-off."
What Brits should do before flying
To avoid disappointment, you should check your passport at least six to eight weeks before travel.
Brits are advised to check both expiry and issue date by using the UK government's passport validity checker.
Holidaymakers should renew their passport early if the expiry date is within six to nine months.
Touritsts should also remain extra cautious if visiting countries like Thailand or UAE who have strict rules.
Even for some cruise ports, the spokesperson explained: "It's heartbreaking to see someone turned away at the gate over a technicality.
"And it's worse if it's a long-planned celebration or a once-in-a-lifetime trip."
'With post-Brexit changes and non-EU travel rules, Brits can't afford to be casual about passports anymore."
"Even if you've travelled recently, double-check every time — the rules vary wildly depending on where you're going."
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