Travel expert Simon Calder has urged travellers to “check their passport now” as post-Brexit rules could see people turned away at the gate.
The renowned travel expert from the Independent explained to Express.co.uk that the Government negotiated on our behalf to become third-country nationals after the democratic vote to leave the EU, therefore existing European Union rules come into play.
This means Brits must adhere to two separate passport conditions. One depends on the issue date of your passport, the other the expiry date.
Speaking to Express.co.uk Mr Calder said: “The issue date cannot be more than 10 years after the date you intend to enter the EU, if its had its 10th birthday you can’t come in.
“On the day you intend you must have at least three months remaining on your passport, so there are now two tests.
“A lot of the upset I see is because the airlines demand to know everything about you. Why can’t they simply say that your passport is out of date. But everytime I speak to them they say it is too difficult because if they do it for Europe then they have to do it for the rest of the world.
“You go to Gatwick for instance a big holiday airport and you’re at the queue for one of the big budget airlines and someone is standing there whose sole job is to check your passport.
“Many people assume they can claim back their holiday on travel insurance but unfortunately every travel insurance I have seen says you are responsible for making sure your documents are in order.”
The travel expert added that one thing that catches people out is children’s passports which are valid for a maximum of five years and nine months.
Mr Calder admitted there has “been quite a lot of confusion spread on what the rules actually are” despite the new rule coming into place over three years ago.
He said: “The passport rule change was all tied up in the horrible Covid business. This rule came into play in 2021 but this came at the same time we were banned from going on holiday.
“I spent months talking to officials in Brussels making sure I knew what the rules were. I got in touch with the Government, airlines and the holiday companies to say here are the rules and these are my friends at the European Commission to double check and to please let people know.
“Some of the airlines and holiday companies to their credit said ok but I’m afraid the Government and a couple of big airlines who should have known better started making up their own rules for months which confused things even further.”
New research by Confused.com reveals that 1 in 20 (5%) of Brits have had to miss, cancel or postpone their travels due to an expired passport. And with September found to be the second highest month for travel, following August, this could affect many holiday goers this month.
In a bid to curb the uncertainty, Confused.com have come up with a handy passport expiry date checker to check if you have time left on your passport before you jet off.
You can view Confused.com’s passport checker here.