200 people a day are being stopped from getting on their flights with UK passports because of strict EU rules being imposed after Brexit. To enter the EU, UK passports must have been issued within the last decade and remain valid for three months beyond your planned return date. Holders of the older burgundy passports are among those most susceptible to the problem due to when they were issued, leaving their holders at risk of travel disruption.
Some people have passports which are more than 10 years old – for example if the valid time on an old passport was added to a new one. But while the passport is ‘valid’ it won’t be accepted for use in some countries. That includes the EU. Even if your passport still has time to run before it expires – you must have at least three months left before it runs out after your planned return journey.
Travel guru Simon Calder from the Independent said “easily a couple of hundred people a day” are being denied boarding. Over the year, he suggests this could add up to more than 100,000 missed holidays due to the regulations. Simon has reached out to airlines, pushing them to better inform travellers, especially during online check-in processes which can occur weeks ahead of the flight.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Simon said, “I’m afraid all you can do at this stage is try and get an emergency appointment and see if you can get a passport turned around.” “But if you’re travelling later, maybe in the May bank holidays or the summer holidays then you’ve got time on your side and just to stress… It’s only the EU that cares about the issue date, if you’re going to America, Australia, Tunisia they say your passport’s valid up to and including the expiry date,” reported Birmingham Live.
If someone is turned back at the airport Simon Calder said they were “absolutely not” covered and would not get their money back. “It’s always the passengers’ responsibility to make sure they are compliant.” According to the Government website, it usually takes three weeks for your new passport to be delivered. In some cases it might take longer than three weeks, if more information is needed or you need to be interviewed. The processing time starts from when the passport office receives your documents. If you need a passport urgently, there is also a one-week fast track service.
All British passports issued since the middle of 2020 are now dark blue in colour. If your passport needs to be renewed, you can apply for a new one either by post or online.