Restrictions lifting across the world have resulted in making travel easier for anyone who missed a holiday during the lockdown. While navigating travel during Covid-times is getting easier, there are still changes that can cause havoc for holidaymakers looking to soak up the sun.
Holidaymakers have been left confused after the rule changes on passports which came into effect on October 21, 2021. Anyone planning to travel abroad should check the validity of their passport to make sure there is a sufficient number of months left on the expiry date. This will depend on the country that you are flying to and the airlines you are flying with.
Some countries insist that a British passport must have either three or six months left on it to be accepted. To add to the confusion, some airlines also have different rules about what constitutes a valid passport or not. Travelling without one could mean not being allowed to fly.
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Passengers need to check the issue date of their passport to check that it falls within the timeframe for travel depending on their destination or airline. There are different rules for certain countries which may cause confusion. Non-European countries may require additional visas, blank pages and the issue date varies depending on the individual countries' regulations so travellers will need to check ahead of time.
Ryanair is one of the most popular airlines offering routes across Europe for less. They insist that you must have a valid passport to board any of Ryanair's flights ahead of travel.
When it comes to non-EU passport holders, they must have a passport that is valid for at least three months from their date of departure when heading to a Schengen member country. There are 26 Schengen country members including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
When it comes to EU passport holders, the Ryanair website states: "From 1st October 2021, nationals of the EEA/EU or Switzerland travelling to the United Kingdom must be in possession of a valid passport, as National ID cards issued by the EEA/EU and Switzerland are no longer acceptable to enter the UK."
Some popular non-European countries such as India insist on passports being machine-readable with two blank pages for the visa and valid for a minimum of 180 days a the time of entry into the country. In other destinations such as Japan and Mexico look for a passport that is valid for the duration of your stay.
However, there are exceptions such as travellers who hold a residence permit or a long-term visa. Although it is still worth checking that the documents you have are accepted before you set off for the sun.
When it comes to travel outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) then a passport must be valid for the period of your intended stay. There are also exceptions to this too including Jordan where it must be valid for six months, Turkey which must be six months from the date of entry, Montenegro needs three months on your passport and Bosnia or Herzegovina need at least three months.
If you’re travelling to Ireland, you can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay. When it comes to domestic flights, each country is different but it is worth noting that driving licenses cannot be used in lieu of a passport on flights either.
Different countries will have their own rules regarding what makes a valid passport and expiration rules. It is the responsibility of the traveller to do their own research, and contact embassies or airlines ahead of travel.
The best place for information is through the UK Foreign Office Travel Advice which gives detailed advice on the restrictions for Covid, passport regulations and if a country is safe to travel to. Rules can change quickly too especially where Covid restrictions are concerned so keep a close eye on the website for any amendments close to travel dates.
If in doubt over dates, check the validity online but leave time to order a new passport. Passports can be applied for through the Post Office in the UK.
