Holidaymakers still having a burgundy passport have been urged to check well whether it will be valid when they are planning to travel. Since the UK officially left the European Union in 2020, the burgundy passports many Brits still have are currently valid for travel in 2025, provided they are up-to-date.
Many countries require a passport to have at least six months of validity remaining before entry. British travellers heading to EU destinations such as Spain or the Netherlands should also ensure their passport was issued within the last 10 years prior to their departure date. For frequent travellers, it’s crucial to verify that your passport has sufficient blank pages for stamps before embarking on your journey.
Those with passports filled with stamps from previous travels should ensure there is enough empty space, as entry could be denied if requirements are not met. Countries differ in how actively they stamp passports, so running out of space may lead to trouble at your dream destination.
A TikTok video by Rudge Daily has highlighted the importance of making “vital checks” on your passport, particularly when it comes to the issue and expiry dates.
The warning stated: “There’s a high chance the old coloured documents break travel rules, so anyone who owns one is urged to make vital checks well in advance. The two most important details to check are your passport’s issue date and expiry date.”
The video went on: “Brits going on their holidays continue to be caught out by the rules, as research found that fewer than 50% of people are aware of the 10-year cut-off before 2018.”
If you are planning to visit EU countries, make sure your passport was issued within the last 10 years and remains valid for at least three months after your intended return date.
Before 2018, UK passports could carry an extra nine months valid from their last passport, meaning travellers could technically have a document that’s valid for 10 years and nine months.
According to Rudge Daily: “While you might still have plenty of time left before the expiry date, it is more likely to be over 10 years old and therefore invalid for EU travel. If you’re going abroad, it’s always best to just quickly Google the passport rules for [the country you’re visiting].”