Holidaymakers travelling to Spain this summer have been given updated passport advice from the UK Foreign Office.
Anyone entering the Schengen area must have a passport issued less than 10 years before their arrival date and valid for at least three months after their departure date. These requirements can be checked against the "date of issue" and "expiry date" sections of the photo page.
The Foreign Office states that people should contact the Spanish embassy if they think their passport fails to meet either of these requirements. Out-of-date passports should be renewed as soon as possible.
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It comes after The Independent revealed dozens of passengers due to fly from the UK to the EU were wrongly turned away at airport check-in because of incorrect advice on the Foreign Office's website. The newspaper said the government's mistake "caused widespread confusion and distress" while increasing pressure on an already-struggling Passport Office.
UK residents can travel to countries in the Schengen area – 26 European states including Spain – for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without needing a visa. Anyone wishing to stay longer should contact the Spanish consulate prior to travelling.
Spain requires all tourists either to be fully vaccinated or recently recovered from Covid-19, except if exempt. The full advice can be found on the Foreign Office website.
What does the Foreign Office guidance say about passports?
If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must 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’)
You must 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.
Contact the embassy of the country you are visiting if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
