The UK passport rules that are STILL catching thousands of Brits out as families are forced to miss their holidays

Scottish Sun

11 hours ago

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THOUSANDS of Brits still using their burgundy passports are being caught out by confusing rules when travelling.
Since March 2020, anyone getting a new passport would be issued the new blue versions instead.
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Your burgundy passport could be causing you problems this summer
Credit: Getty - Contributor
But along with the new passport colour, stricter rules are also in place since the UK left the EU.
And despite the rules being enforced for more than five years, holidaymakers are still being caught out.
So here is everything you need to know about your passport to avoid being banned from your flight.
Incorrect expiry dates
Previous rules allowed British passport holders to roll over 10 months from their previous passports.
This would mean they would have a validity of up to 10 years and 10 months.
Yet the current rules no longer see those additional 10 months as valid, even if they are on your passport.
For example. If your passport was issued in June 2015, but your expiry date says September 2025, that expiry is actually incorrect.
Instead, your passport would have expired 10 years past the start date - making the real expiry June 2025.
Most airlines are unable to accept passports if they are showing as more than 10 years old, when looking at the state date.
Three month left rule
A number or countries require British holidaymakers to have a few additional months left on their passport to travel.
What do you need to do to ensure your passport is OK for travel?
For example, most places in Europe including Spain and France require you to have at least three months left on the passport before it expires.
The confusion comes, however, from both of these rules being enforced.
While they do not have to run at the same time, most airlines and tour operators are requiring passports to meet both of the new rules.
This is despite the UK Foreign Office website stating: "The expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue."
Despite this, many families are still being forced to follow both of these rules, so it is worth making sure your passport is valid for both reasons.
Are people still getting caught out?
Earlier this year, a Brit was banned from her flight at London Gatwick because of the confusing passport rules.
While trying to board her flight in March 2025, her passport had a start date of June 2015 and an expiry of August 2025.
Airline staff incorrectly said she needed to follow both rules so she was banned from flying and left £700 out of pocket.
And last year, passenger Alex Brooke was left in tears because they were caught out as well.
Trying to travel in May 2024, they said: "Because my passport had been issued in April 2014; that meant it had been issued 10 years and 1 month ago."
A mum travelling to Paris in June was incorrectly told her passport was out of date due to a similar confusion, and was stopped from boarding her flight,
What are the passport rules?
The Sun's Head of Travel Lisa Minot has explained exactly what Brits need to know.
"Travellers used to be able to roll over up to nine unused months from their old passport onto a new one.
"But post-Brexit, anyone wanting to travel to the EU can no longer rely on those extra months.
"In order to travel to the EU, all passports must be no more than 10 years old on the day you arrive in your European destination.
"And you'll need at least three months on your passport on the day you head back to the UK.
"Figures have shown up to 100,000 holidaymakers a year face being turned away at airports if their passport is more than 10 years old.
"The 10-year rule only applies to countries in the European Union but every country may have different rules on what is accepted - some countries like South Africa, for example, insist you have at least six months left on your passport when you travel and a full clear page."
We've listed all of the countries where you need at least three months on your passport.
And here's how to get a fast track passport renewal.