Summer holidays are back and we couldn’t be more excited. It is finally time to dig out your summer sandals and dust off your passport.
We all know that we must check the COVID Entry Requirements before we travel. However, it is equally important this summer that we make sure our passports are valid for EU travel.
Now that we are no longer part of the EU there are two things you need to look out for on your passport.
It cannot be more than 10 years old on the day you arrive in your destination.
Your passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you enter your EU destination. For this you will need to check the ‘Date of Issue’ on your passport photo page.
For example; if you are arriving in Spain on the 30 July 2022 your passport must have been issued on or after the 30 July 2012.
It is important to note that if you renewed your passport early, you may have acquired additional months of validity which were added on to your expiry date. Unfortunately these additional months are no longer taken into consideration. Your passport is only valid for 10 years after the date of issue.
You must have 3 months validity from the day you return home to the UK.
From the day you return home from your holiday, you must have 3 months validity left on your passport. For this you will need to check the ‘Date of Expiry’. For example if you return from Spain on the 10 August 2022 your passport must not expire before the 10 November 2022.
While the majority of EU countries require 3 months validity, it is important to check the gov.uk website for the most up to date entry requirements for your destination before you travel.
These rules apply to all EU member states (except Ireland) and include Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.
Please note, Turkey is not an EU member state and therefore has its own set of passport validity rules. To visit Turkey you must have 6 months validity from the date you arrive in Turkey. This is the only criteria.
Therefore, to go on holiday to Spain from the 30 July 2022 to the 10 August 2022 your passport must have been issued after 30 July 2012 and expire after 10 November 2022.
How Do I Renew My Passport?
The easiest and cheapest way to renew your passport is to apply online via the Government Website. This will cost £75.50 and can be done via the link here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport
You can also call into your local post office and ask for a paper form to renew your passport. This service will cost an extra £9.50.
Current advice is to allow up to 10 weeks to receive your new passport. Therefore it is imperative that you renew as early as possible before you travel.
You can track the progress of your application here: https://www.gov.uk/track-passport-application
If you need your passport urgently then you can apply for the Online Premium Service. For this you will need to book an appointment at a passport office and pay £177 online. You can book an appointment up to 3 weeks in advance.
To find your nearest passport office please click here: https://www.gov.uk/find-regional-passport-office
To book an appointment please click here: https://www.passport.service.gov.uk/urgent/