A woman has issued a stark warning to fellow UK passport holders after her holiday plans were abruptly halted at the airport. Chelsea Rodd, a travel blogger, was caught out by a rule she wasn’t aware of, leading to the cancellation of her trip despite her passport having not expired.
“I should be in Milan right now with the girls,” an emotional Chelsea began in a TikTok video. She went on to explain that upon arriving at London Gatwick Airport to check in her luggage, her passport was inspected and it quickly became clear she wouldn’t be jetting off to Italy.
“I’m not sure if this is common knowledge – I travel all the time – but because my passport’s start date is July 2015, it’s just gone over the 10-year mark even though it doesn’t run out until April 2026,” Chelsea clarified.
So what was the issue? “I learned the hard way that for travel to the EU your UK passport must have been issued within the last 10 years – even if it hasn’t expired yet,” she disclosed. Chelsea added: “I’m absolutely shocked by that. When you go to book your flight to the EU, nothing on the website mentions this and at the point of check-in nothing was said.”
Attempts to secure alternative flights with different carriers or to other airports all came to nothing too. “I even tried the Passport Office and booking an emergency appointment online,” Chelsea said. “But there was nothing until Monday when we’d be due to come back. I tried everything and the girls didn’t want to go without me, but I wanted them to have a lovely time as we’ve been planning it so long.”
Adding insult to injury, Chelsea disclosed she will now be compelled to forfeit countless content creation opportunities she had organised with various brands throughout the previous year.
She concluded by warning others: “If you have a trip coming up, check your passport’s start date, not just the expiry date. This rule came in after Brexit, but it’s still catching so many people out.
“Previously when you renewed a passport, if you did it before the 10 years was up they would give you the extra on top – this was my issue. They don’t do that now.”
Responding to her post, one TikTok user expressed similar exasperation, writing: “The annoying thing is when you check in and put your passport details in they only ask for expiry – and given this has happened so many times of people being unaware airlines should ask for start date too.”
Another person recalled their scenario: “This happened to me many years ago. I organised a trip to Milan. We all at airport checking in. That’s when I was informed that my passport had expired. I had to wave goodbye to my friends.”
While a third vented: “Happened to me too a couple of weeks ago at Gatwick. Passport expires Sept 2026 and issued June 2015. Don’t get how they allow you to book. I always thought you had to have 6 months from when you return.”
The European Union’s travel website advises: “If you are a national from a country outside the EU wishing to visit or travel within the EU, you will need a valid passport and possibly a visa.
“Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU and it must have been issued within the last 10 years. This means your travel document must have been issued within the previous 10 years the day you enter the EU on condition that it is valid until the end of your stay plus an additional 3 months.”
