Passport for travel to Europe: the 10-year and 3-month rule

Since the UK left the European Union, a British passport for travel to Europe must meet two separate requirements. It is important to check them in advance: at the Schengen border a passport that technically still "works" can be refused, and you simply will not be let in. The Schengen area is a group of European countries with no border checks between them, but entry from outside is checked.

Rule one: the passport is under 10 years old on your arrival date

Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the date you arrive in the Schengen area. The key is the date of issue, not just the expiry date. This matters because, before 1 October 2018, the UK could add unused months from an old passport onto a new one. As a result, the issue date on the cover can be more than ten years ago even if the passport is still in date. Such a passport will not be accepted for Schengen.

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Rule two: at least 3 months left after you leave

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. You count from your departure date, not your arrival: if you leave on, say, 20 June, the passport must not expire before 20 September. The three-month buffer is a requirement of the host countries, not a British one.

How to check your passport

Open the photo page and look at two dates: the date of issue and the date of expiry. Add 10 years to the issue date — it must be later than your arrival day. Then make sure at least 3 months remain after your departure. If either condition fails, renew the passport before you travel. It is best to renew early: processing takes time, and while your new passport is being made the old one is taken in, so avoid tying a firm travel date to a document you have not yet received. You can check timings and apply to renew on gov.uk.

Who does the rule apply to?

The same two conditions usually apply to children's passports, which run for a shorter period, so check a child's passport separately. An airline can check that your passport meets the rules at check-in and refuse to board you if it does not — and the ticket is not refunded. These requirements apply to visiting Schengen countries as a tourist or on a short trip. Individual countries can differ, so before travelling always open the "Entry requirements" page for your specific destination on gov.uk, where the exact conditions and any special cases are set out.