Brits heading on holidays to hotspots in Spain, France, Greece, Portugal, Italy and other European hotspots need to make 4 key checks now ahead of summer
Brits planning their summer holidays abroad will want to check their passports now – or risk being turned away at the airport.
In recent years there have been plenty of changes to travel rules, most notably regarding what is considered a valid UK passport when flying to hotspots such as France, Greece, Spain, Portugal and more EU destinations. If a passport is deemed invalid, you won’t be able to fly – not to mention that in most cases this can invalidate your travel insurance, meaning you could be left significantly out of pocket.
While most people will check the expiry date on their travel document, since leaving Brexit the issue date also plays a part – and it’s left plenty of UK travellers getting caught out at the airport. Now the insurance experts at Tiger.co.uk have shared seven of the key passport checks you’ll want to make now ahead of summer, to give yourself time to apply for a new passport if you need to.
Check out the four top checks below…
1. Blank pages
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This little-known passport rule could easily be missed, but it’s an important one. The insiders explain: “With Brits now getting stamped every time they travel through the EU, travel enthusiasts and those who travel for work may potentially run out of blank pages in their passports. All passport holders must have at least two blank passport pages when they travel, otherwise the document could be seen as invalid. Those travelling more frequently can opt for a jumbo passport that has 54 pages instead of a normal one with 34 pages.”
2. The expiry date – and issue date
Since Brexit, passport rules have changed for Brits heading to EU countries. Airlines including easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and British Airways have been issuing reminders for their passengers, but ultimately it’s on the traveller to make sure their document is up to date.
Now, passports must be valid for at least three months beyond the date of departure and must have been issued less than 10 years ago. The insurance experts add: “This is an important detail to remember as previously, British passports could be valid for 10 years and nine months, however with the new EU rules, they’re only valid for 10 years from the issue date.”
The rules also apply if you’re travelling to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican City or Switzerland.
3. Damage
There are various ways a passport could be seen as damaged, so make sure to check your document thoroughly. Some of the common issues include water damage. The Tiger team added: “While minor exposure to water such as slightly crinkled page edges shouldn’t be an issue, further damage like smudged ink or discolouration can lead to delays or refusals at the border.”
Meanwhile, tears or rips on any of the pages could mean your document is deemed invalid. Missing pages will also mean it’s not accepted at border control, especially if it affects personal details pages or any visa stamps.
Keep an eye out on laminate peeling or lifting too, as this could render your passport invalid because it could be flagged as at risk of tampering. The experts advised: “If the laminate over the personal details page is lifting or peeling, it could raise suspicions of tampering. This is a common reason for passports being flagged or rejected so even if all the information is readable, it’s best to get your passport replaced to prevent any issues.”
4. Check your child’s passport
As well as checking all of the above on your own passport, check children’s passports too. Oh, and don’t forget that a child’s passport is only valid for five years. It’s easy to forget this detail, but you’ll want to make sure to check the expiry date and leave plenty of time to avoid delays!
Have you been caught out by passport rule changes? Email us at [email protected].