Flight passengers from the UK are being urged to check their passports after a “10-year passport rule” prevented one jet setter from boarding his flight.
Brexit, the UK’s departure from the European Union, appears to be the gift that keeps giving regarding limiting our freedom of movement.
After severing ties with the EU, rules for people with British passports changed regarding their issue dates.
Previously, people could carry over up to nine months of their old passport onto their new one. It meant some UK citizens had passports valid for 10 years and nine months.
However, Brexiteers negotiated for Brits to be identified as “third-country nationals” following Brexit. Guidelines for countries in this category mean people cannot travel if their passport was issued more than 10 years ago.
Additionally, people departing the European Union also require three months valid on their passport when departing.
The BBC reported that Nathan Barnes discovered the situation the hard way when he reached his flight gate — only to be turned away.
"I was gutted, surprised really. We had checked in online and thought it was fine," Mr Barnes said.
As we prepare for the Easter holidays and count down to the summer, many people may unknowingly be impacted by this rule.
So here’s what you need to know before your next holiday.
When do I need to renew my passport?
The Government website says: “If your passport is burgundy or has ‘European Union’ on the cover, you can continue to use it until it expires.”
However, the EU’s Your Europe website says that your passport must meet the following requirements:
It must be valid for three months after the date you intend to leave the EU country you are visiting.
It must have been issued in the previous 10 years.
If your passport was issued over 10 years ago, you will not be allowed entry into the EU. This may not apply when travelling to other parts of the world.
How to check if your passport is still valid
Read the Government’s travel advice for the country you intend to visit and check the entry requirements.
If you plan to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, follow the Schengen area passport requirements.
Your passport must be:
- issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’).
- valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’).
Check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before October 1, 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.
Alternatively, you can contact the UK Passport Office or visit a post office offering passport check and send services. They will be able to assist you in verifying the validity of your passport.
How long does it take to get or renew a passport?
The Home Office advises that travellers give the process up to 10 weeks. Information is available here.
Here are the general processing times for renewing a passport in the UK:
- Standard service: The standard processing time for renewing a passport through the regular service is usually around three weeks from the date His Majesty's Passport Office receives the application.
- Online renewal service: Renewing a passport online is typically faster than the standard service. It often takes about three weeks as well.
- Fast Track service: If you need your passport urgently, you can use the Fast Track service, which usually processes applications within one week. However, this service may not be available in all circumstances and may require an additional fee.
- Premium one-day service: This service allows you to get your passport the same day you apply, provided you have an appointment and all necessary documents. This service is available at select Passport Customer Service Centres and requires an additional fee.
How to renew your passport urgently
You can apply to renew or replace your passport (or obtain a first child passport) faster if you’re in the UK.
The two ways to apply for an urgent passport are through the Online Premium service or the one-week Fast Track process.
For the Online Premium service, you must apply, pay and book a 30-minute appointment via the Government website here.
You will need your old passport, a device that takes digital photos, and a digital photograph of yourself to complete the process.
This urgent service is more expensive — it costs £193.50 or £204.50 for a 54-page passport. It is available for people whose passports were issued after December 31, 2001.
Alternatively, you can also use the Fast Track service. This service requires you to get a paper application form from a post office, book an appointment, and pay online.
You should take your application form, required documents, and two identical printed passport photos to the appointment. It costs £155 for an adult passport (or £166 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport) or £126 for a child passport (or £137 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport).
How to contact the Passport Office
To speak to someone at the Passport Office for more advice, call 0300 222 0000 from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 5.30pm at the weekend and on public holidays.
