Some British holidaymakers could be facing a startling setback as a rigid passport regulation have reportedly led 200 travellers per day being refused boarding and missing out on their planned European getaways.
Brits anticipating sun-soaked continental breaks are hitting a hitch at the boarding gates, owing to an inflexible rule concerning passport expiry dates.
For entry into the EU/Schengen Area, your passport must have been issued in the past ten years and stay valid for at least three months after you’re set to leave. Particularly vulnerable to this guideline are holders of the older-style burgundy passports, given when they were initially issued, heightening the likelihood of holiday plans going awry.
As an example, if your burgundy passport runs out on March 31, your last day to travel would be December 31, factoring in the compulsory three-month period beyond your exit date for using your present passport, reports The Mirror.
However, if your trip is scheduled for January 1 and your passport is due to expire on March 31, you will need to get a new passport before you travel.
As of December 31, 2020, the issuance of burgundy British passports was discontinued by the HM Passport Office, with the UK’s post-Brexit transition deadline bringing the practice to an end.
Simon Calder, the renowned travel expert from the Independent, has delved into the data and estimates that “easily a couple of hundred people a day” are turned away at the gate. He also suggests that over 100,000 holiday dreams are being dashed annually as a result of this strict rule.
Simon has reached out to airlines, pushing them to better inform travellers, especially during online check-in processes which can occur weeks ahead of the flight. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Simon warned: “I’m afraid all you can do at this stage is try and get an emergency appointment and see if you can get a passport turned around.”
“But if you’re travelling later, maybe in the May bank holidays or the summer holidays then you’ve got time on your side and just to stress… It’s only the EU that cares about the issue date, if you’re going to America, Australia, Tunisia they say your passport’s valid up to and including the expiry date.”
If someone is turned back at the airport Simon Calder said they were “absolutely not” covered and would not get their money back. “It’s always the passengers’ responsibility to make sure they are compliant.”
According to official guidance found on the Government website, acquiring a new passport typically has a three-week waiting period, although it could extend further under certain circumstances.
The start of the processing period begins when your application reaches the passport office, with an option for an expedited one-week service if necessary.
All British passports issued since the middle of 2020 are now dark blue in colour. If your passport needs to be renewed, you can apply for a new one either by post or online.