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Why UK passport holders need to check the issue date of their passports before travelling to the EU

By Jenny Southan

Did you know that the expiry date on burgundy British passports might be meaningless when travelling to EU countries (except Ireland ) or Schengen zone countries such as Switzerland , Norway and Iceland ? This is because since Brexit, British passports cannot be more than 10 years old when used to travel to the EU – which means you need to look at the date the passport was issued , rather than the date it expires. Most people – understandably – assume that an adult passport lasts 10 years, but if your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months might have been added to its expiry date if the previous passport was renewed before it fully expired (the additional months used to be rolled over).

In spite of being a travel journalist, I was caught out by this sneaky rule on a recent trip to France (you can read more on the FCO’s website ). It was ironic because I was aware of it, and then forgot about it. I had completed a trip to the US just the previous week and hadn’t thought twice about a trip to France with my daughter for the Easter holidays because I still have seven months left on my passport – it expires in November 2023 (you need a minimum of three months to travel to the EU). So I checked in online with Easyjet – uploading my passport details as requested – travelled to London Gatwick with my four year old, had our passports checked before dropping off our suitcase , and then proceeded through security.

A couple of hours later we were queuing to board the plane, but when it came to our turn a member of Easyjet staff scanned my passport and it flashed up as “amber” on her screen. She sternly proceeded to tell me that my passport had expired and we wouldn’t be allowed to board. My daughter started crying and begging to be allowed to see her grandparents whom we were supposed to be visiting. The Easyjet representative was unsympathetic – insisting there was no way we could travel and telling me to step away from the gate. I was shocked – it felt like an arbitrary rule. She wouldn’t even acknowledge that it was confusing for flyers and accepted no responsibility on behalf of the airline for not flagging it during the booking or check-in process.

We then had to wait two hours for our suitcase to be returned while they off-loaded it from the plane. Obviously, it’s my own fault – the rule has been in place since January 2021. But I wanted to share my experience because if I can make this mistake, then other people will do so too. And it’s a costly one – flights lost, hotel lost, holiday lost.

To make matters worse, this happened last week – during the first week of the five-week-long HM Passport Office strikes . What this meant was that I was not able to get a new passport quickly enough to travel during the Easter break (I would have booked new flights if I could). Normally you can pay £193.50 to apply for an Online Premium passport that can be collected in two days, or a Fast Track one that takes a week. When I returned home I attempted to get an appointment for an Online Premium premium passport but it took me two days to secure a slot (every time I clicked it said there were no available appointments – same for Fast Track).

After many dozens of attempts, I finally managed to proceed with the application on 6 April, but the soonest appointment I could get was 25 April and I would have to fly to the passport office in Belfast to collect it (I live in London). There were no slots in England available. As I have a business trip to Berlin at the beginning of May , I went ahead with this – paying £250 for flights to Belfast plus another £100 for a hotel. I then realised my daughters’ passport expires in September 2023 and if we wanted to go on holiday abroad this summer , I would need to get one for her too (you can’t use Online Premium for kids – and it costs £126 Fast Track). So far, there are no appointments available.

These are the current rules for British passport holders travelling to the EU and Schengen zone. 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 three months after the day you plan to leave
• You do not need a visa for short trips to the EU or countries in the Schengen area if both of the following apply: you’re staying for 90 days or less in a 180-day period OR you’re visiting as a tourist or for certain other reasons

Accessibility Links

How many months do I need on my passport to travel?

Everything you need to know about passport validity — and which destinations demand what.

H aving a valid passport is essential for international travel, but countries have different rules around when a passport expires — and it’s not necessarily the date shown on your document. Following Brexit , for example, UK passport holders now need to have a passport that’s less than ten years old when they enter an EU member state, with an expiry date that’s at least three months after the day they leave.

For some destinations, a valid passport isn’t the only requirement — you may also need to have full blank pages for visa and entry and exit stamps. Here’s everything you need to know, including the entry requirements for some of the most popular destinations for British travellers.

Main photo: wherever you’re going, check the passport requirements (Alamy)

Popular destinations

• Spain : passport must be less than ten years old when you enter the country and valid for at least three months after the day you leave

• Greece : less than ten years old when you enter the country and valid for at least three months after the day you leave

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• France : less than ten years old when you enter the country and valid for at least three months after the day you leave

• Italy : less than ten years old when you enter the country and valid for at least three months after the day you leave

• US : passport must be valid for duration of stay, no additional validity required

Less than three months needed

• Argentina : passport must be valid for duration of stay

• Australia : valid for duration of stay

• Barbados : valid for duration of stay

• Bermuda : valid for duration of stay

• Canada : valid for duration of stay

• Chile : valid for duration of stay

• Cuba : valid for two months after departure

• Japan : valid for duration of stay

• Jamaica : valid for duration of stay

• Mexico : valid for duration of stay.

• Morocco : valid for duration of stay but three additional months is advisable

• Seychelles : valid for duration of stay

• St Lucia : valid for duration of stay

• Tunisia: valid for duration of stay

Three months needed

• EU countries ( Austria , Belgium , Bulgaria, Croatia , Cyprus , Czech Republic , Denmark , Estonia, Finland , France , Germany, Greece , Hungary , Ireland , Italy , Latvia , Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta , Netherlands , Poland , Portugal , Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia , Spain and Sweden ): passport must be valid from day after departure and less than ten years old

• Iceland : passport must be valid from day after departure and less than ten years old

• New Zealand : from arrival

• Norway : from day after departure and less than ten years old

• Switzerland : from day after departure and less than ten years old

Six months needed

• Anguilla : passport must be valid for six months from arrival

• Antigua and Barbuda: from arrival

• Bahamas : from departure

• Belize : from arrival

• Brazil : from arrival

• Bolivia: from arrival

• China : from arrival

• Colombia : from arrival

• Dominican Republic : from arrival

• Indonesia : from arrival

• Israel : from arrival

• Egypt : from arrival

• Grenada : from arrival

• Jordan : from arrival

• Malaysia : from arrival

• Maldives : from arrival

• Peru : from arrival

• Qatar : from arrival

• Singapore : from arrival

• Sri Lanka : from arrival

• Taiwan: from arrival

• Thailand : from arrival

• UAE : from arrival

• Vietnam : from arrival

How much do passports cost?

• Online applications made from within the UK cost £82.50 for adults and £53.50 for children

• Postal applications cost £93 for adults and £64 for children

Which countries require blank pages in your passport?

Some countries require full blank pages for visas on arrival as well as entry and exit stamps. In some cases, these blank pages need to be consecutive. Double check with the embassy before you travel.

• India : passport must be valid 180 days from visa application and arrival, and contain two blank pages

• Kenya : valid six months from arrival, plus two blank pages

• Mauritius : valid for duration of stay, plus a blank page

• Namibia : valid six months from arrival, plus a blank page

• Rwanda: valid six months from arrival, plus a blank page

• Turkey : valid six months from arrival, plus a blank page

• South Africa : valid for six months from arrival and 30 days on departure, plus two blank pages

How do I find out how long I need on my passport?

The Foreign Office has a full list of entry requirements for different countries, including passport validity. It assumes you are travelling on a full, standard British passport. If you have a passport issued from a British Overseas Territory, the entry requirements may be different for some destinations. You should also double check details with the embassy of the country you’re visiting.

What’s the minimum passport validity to enter the UK?

The UK government requires visitors from other countries to have a passport (or other valid ID if from EU countries, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein) that is valid for the duration of their stay. No additional validity is required.

How do I get a new passport if I need one?

You can apply for a new passport online via the government’s website. It costs £82.50 for a standard adult passport (valid 10 years), or £53.50 for a child under 16 (valid five years), and you’ll need a credit or debit card for this. Alternatively you can apply for one through the post; the forms for postal applications are available through the Post Office and it costs £93 for an adult or £64 for a child.

You’ll need to send in certain documents which usually include a birth certificate if it’s your first passport, or your previous passport if you’re renewing. The requirements vary according to your circumstances but the application form will tell you what you need.

• Most powerful passports in the world

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Home / Are ‘extra months’ on pre-Brexit UK passports no longer valid?

> Are ‘extra months’ on pre-Brexit UK passports no longer valid?

Are ‘extra months’ on pre-Brexit UK passports no longer valid?

30 September 2021 3 minute read

CLAIM: Additional months of validity on UK passports issued before the UK left the EU are no longer valid.

ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

British passports used to visit the European Union or the Schengen Area following the end of the Brexit transition period must be less than 10 years old on the day the traveller leaves. However, this rule only applies for travel to the European Union or the Schengen Area; the rules for travel to the rest of the world are unchanged, and the new rules do not apply for travel to Ireland.

An Instagram post claimed that if a UK passport issued before the UK left the EU had additional months for its validity, then those extra months are no longer valid. The post included an example of a passport issued on 21 June 2012, with an expiry date of 21 December 2012; the revised expiry date is 21 June 2012.

Extra months

If a British passport holder renews their passport before the current passport expires, extra months may be added to the expiry date of the new passport (so it expires 10 years after the expiry of the old passport, but is issued and valid before the old passport expires). This means that a standard 10-year passport may have more than 10 years between the issue date and the expiry date.

Post-Brexit retrospective changes

Before the United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020, and during the transition period that ended on 31 December 2020, British passports were accepted for travel to all other countries in the European Union regardless of the duration of the passport or the amount of time remaining before the expiry of the passport.

However, following the end of the Brexit transition period, UK passport holders are now treated as third country nationals , and therefore the rules for British passport holders have changed.

According to Title II, Chapter I, Article 6 of the Schengen Borders Code , third party nationals may only be admitted to the Schengen Area if the validity of the passport has been “issued within the previous 10 years”, and the passport validity extends at least three months after the intended date of departure.

In effect, this means that a passport cannot be used for travel to the European Union or Schengen Area if more than ten years has elapsed since the passport was issued. However, this rule does not apply for travel to Ireland . The rules for travel to the rest of the world using British passports have not changed.

Post-Brexit UK passports

British government advice for travel to Europe states :

We recommend that on the day you travel you have at least 6 months left on your passport. This allows for:

• travelling in Europe for up to 3 months (you don’t normally need a visa for the first 90 days in every 180 days of travel)
• the requirement from most European countries to have at least 3 months left on your passport on the day after you leave

Your passport must also be less than 10 years old on the day after you leave. If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the minimum period needed.

These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland. You can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay.

Passport validity rules can vary for countries outside Europe. Canada and Mexico are examples of countries that require three months’ validity for travel, while Turkey and Vietnam require six months’ validity.

FactCheckNI is Northern Ireland’s first and only dedicated independent fact-checking service and a  verified signatory  to the International Fact-Checking Network’s  Code of Principles . You can learn more about  about FactCheckNI , our  personnel , what our article  verdicts  mean, and how to  submit a claim .

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10-year rules, expiry dates and Brexit beef: 10 passport myths debunked

While passport validity rules and individual immigration requirements do exist, there is a lot of bad information out there. simon calder busts the top 10 myths you’ll find on the internet, article bookmarked.

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Now that the Foreign Office has finally aligned its travel advice for the European Union with the actual rules in Brussels , it’s time to tackle some of the myths that are being spread by social media, print media and even parts of the travel industry about UK passports.

Here are 10 of the most scarily common - but utterly wrong - claims about passports you’ll find out in the ether.

1. “Your passport runs out nine years and nine months after the date it was issued”

This ridiculous fabrication is not true - and never was true. In fact your passport runs out at the end of the expiry date printed on it.

Some countries impose their own rules about minimum validity.

The European Union – which includes Britain’s favourite holiday destinations, Spain, France, Portugal, Italy and Greece – and wider Schengen Area countries insist that three months remain before the expiry date on the day you plan to leave the EU .

The EU also has a stipulation that British passports should be issued in the past 10 years on the day you enter. But Brussels has never had a “nine year, nine months” rule.

2. “The maximum 10 years rule applies worldwide”

No it doesn’t. It applies only on the day of entry to an EU country (or a Schengen Area nation, including the non-EU Switzerland, Norway and Iceland). Everywhere else cares only about the expiry date.

3. “Children’s passports run out after five years”

Not if they have been issued for longer than five years, they don’t. The maximum validity for a passport issued for a child under 16 in the UK is five years, nine months. Blindingly obviously, this is within the European Union’s 10-year-since-issue rule (outside the EU, no one cares about the issue date anyway).

4. “Whatever the expiry date says on your passport, it is really only valid for 10 years after the issue date”

Will whoever is spreading this nonsense around, please stop?

5. “Europe is punishing the UK for Brexit”

Wrong. This is deliberate self-harm.

The UK government asked for British passport holders to become third-country nationals, and should have known exactly what the rules would be – because they were decided while the UK was within the European Union.

6. “You need a passport for Ireland”

British visitors to the republic do not require a passport – though airlines may demand one for a journey to the country ( Ryanair does). In such cases, there are no minimum validity rules.

7. “Minimum passport validity must be for either six months or three months, depending on the destination”

More tosh. Many popular countries, such as Australia and the US, have no minimum validity requirement. Others can choose whatever date rules they wish. Costa Rica asks for one day’s validity at the end of the trip; New Zealand insists on a month; Cuba wants two months; and India demands 180 days.

This article contains rules for the most popular destinations .

8. “Travel companies cannot be held responsible for incorrect passport advice”

Suppose you have been told that your passport is not valid when it actually is, and you have spent a fortune on a fast-track application – even having to travel across the UK to get an appointment. Or, even worse, you haven’t even turned up at the airport because you were told it was a waste of time.

While holiday firms and airlines may insist that they are not liable for any passport-related issues, anyone who suffers financial loss as a result of a company failing to act with “reasonable care and skill” may be able to claim under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

9. “The Passport Office doesn’t offer compensation for poor service”

It certainly does, if customers can demonstrate that they have suffered financially or emotionally as a result of mistakes at the Passport Office.

The organisation says : “While HM Passport Office is not legally responsible to compensate customers, we will when we are clearly at fault.

“We will consider each compensation claim on a case-by-case basis. Any payments we make will be in the form of an ex-gratia (offered as a gesture of goodwill) payment. These payments can include:

• refunding the guaranteed service fee
• paying for the customer’s out of pocket expenses (if we have damaged a document or made a mistake)
• the entire cost of a missed holiday”

HM Passport Office will also consider compensation for distress if “the customer misses a life event (for example, a wedding or funeral) “ or “we lose the customer’s irreplaceable documents which have sentimental value (for example, old family photographs)”.

The organisation says: “Compensation for distress must not be excessive, with a standard claim of between £200 and £300. In cases of serious distress (for example, being imprisoned because of our error) the maximum claim can be up to £500.”

You can commence a claim by providing the details on the Passport Enquiries online form .

10. “If your passport does not meet the validity rules, all is lost”

Not necessarily. While The Independent urges all travellers to adhere strictly to the requirements for their destination, there are some cases in which people have been able to travel even though the rules indicate they should not be able to. This is the converse of the much more common situation where people are denied boarding even if they are qualified to travel.

It requires the traveller both to board the transport to their destination without challenge and not to be picked up at the frontier check on arrival.

One well-known sports journalist flew with easyJet to his honeymoon in Greece with a passport issued 10 years and two months earlier. And on the past three flights I have taken to the European Union, on British Airways , Wizz Air and Ryanair, no interest has been shown in the date of issue.

And one half-truth to watch out for...

“if you do not have space for a stamp in your passport, you will not be allowed in”.

This is half true. It does not apply for British passport holders to the European Union. The official position is: “A separate sheet can be used, to which further stamps can be affixed. The sheet must be given to the third-country national. In any case, the lack of empty pages in a passport is not, in itself, a valid and sufficient ground to refuse the entry of a person.”

But the requirement to have space available is certainly enforced by some other countries – notably South Africa, which requires two blank pages.

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• Identity services
• Rules for travelling with a soon-to-be expired passport

People can often forget to check the expiration date on their passports before travelling, assuming that as long as it’s in date then they will be fine. Crucially, a lot of countries still need a certain amount of time on a passport before they allow you in. Find out whether you can travel when your passport is about to expire with our handy guide.

How long should you have left on your passport?

Many people  pack their bags for a holiday or business trip with just a casual glance at their passport expiration date, but if it’s due to expire you may be refused entry. While most countries such as Australia, Canada and the USA just need your passport to be valid for the length of your stay,

other countries such as China, Thailand, Egypt and Turkey need at least six months. Always check the specific entry requirements for the country you are visiting on the GOV.UK website. You should make sure that your passport meets the following rules:

• The passport issue date is less than 10 years before day of arrival in the EU
• The passport expiry date is at least three months after intended day of departure from EU

In general, many countries that require a visa to enter will require at least six months validity on your passport when entering the country, so make sure you find out whether your passport has long enough before it expires before you travel.

It's easy to get your passport application or renewal right first time.

How do i find out how long i need on my passport.

The best way to find out if your passport is valid for travel to certain countries is to check the Travel Advice section of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) website. Choose the country you’re visiting, before clicking on ‘Entry requirements’ and scrolling down to ‘Passport validity’.

Passport rules for different countries

All countries will have their own rules concerning passport validity and expiration rules. Here’s a list of the most common ones:

Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay.

Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay, but if you have less than six months validity it may take longer to pass through immigration control.

Your passport should have at least six months validity.

European Union

For most European countries, HM Passport Office recommend that the passport expiry date is at least three months after intended day of departure from EU. Those countries are:

*However, if you’re travelling to the north of Cyprus, your passport should have at least six months validity.

Czech Republic

Netherlands

Your passport must be machine readable, with two blank pages for your visa and valid for a minimum of 180 days at the time of entry into India.

New Zealand

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of one month from the date of exit.

South Africa

Rules state that your passport should be valid for at least 30 days from the date of exit, but it’s recommended that you have at least six months on your passport before it expires. Your passport should also have at least two blank pages when you enter or leave South Africa.

Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay. However, your passport must be a biometric ePassport with the silver camera symbol on the front. There are also a number of other rules concerning entry to the USA , which you should check before travelling.

What to do if you need a new passport

If you need to renew your passport and have more than four weeks before you travel, pick up an application form from your local Post Office or use our online Passport Check & Send process.

If you need your passport more urgently, then read the Government’s official passport advice to find out more on soon to expire passports.

Want to get your new passport application or renewal right first time?

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‘I was in tears’: Briton with valid passport barred from flight over Brexit rules

Experts say it is vital to check you meet EU requirements, or you could risk losing your holiday

• Why did I have to fly to Belfast to get a new UK passport?

Travellers who have not used their passport for a while were this week being urged to dig it out and check it conforms to the post-Brexit rules for entering the EU – because if it doesn’t, you will almost certainly be denied boarding this summer.

Despite previous warnings in Guardian Money and some other publicity, UK travellers trying to enter the Schengen zone are being turned away on a daily basis by airline staff at boarding gates – in most cases because their UK passport was issued more than 10 years ago.

Rosi Simpson, a teacher from Brighton, is one of the latest to be caught up in the confusion. She says she was left “mortified and in tears” after easyJet staff refused to allow her to board a flight to Paris to see her son, who is studying there, because her UK passport had been issued 10 years and one day previously.

“I had no idea of the 10-year rule,” she says. “I’d checked the expiry date, and my passport had eight months remaining. What happened at the boarding gate was absolutely awful. I lost the cost of the flight and the accommodation I’d booked – I’d been so looking forward to seeing my son. What I don’t understand is why this [rule change] hasn’t had more publicity – an information campaign. I wasn’t the only one who this had happened to at the airport that day,” she says.

In terms of flights and ferries to mainland Europe, passengers will also be denied boarding if their passport expires less than three months after their return date. Previously, it was thought that UK travellers needed at least six months left, although the EU has since clarified the three-month requirement.

Prior to Brexit, UK passport holders could travel in and out of the EU as long as they held a valid passport, even one that expired the day after their return.

The more onerous rules, which came into effect in 2021, apply to UK passport holders travelling to any EU country (except Ireland), plus the others in the Schengen zone: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican and Switzerland.

The “over 10-year” problem came about because, for many years, those renewing their passport before the previous one expired were able to add any remaining time left. Prior to September 2018, you could have up to nine months added to the replacement’s 10-year length – meaning their passport could be valid for as long as 10 years and nine months.

Passengers may look at their passport, see that it does not expire until well after their return, and conclude that all is well. However, they need to check the date of issue. If the passport will be more than 10 years old on the day of entry, they will not be allowed in.

The change has caught out a great many passengers who were unaware of the change. Last year, Guardian Money featured the case of Pat Cerely and her husband, Peter, who were refused permission to board their plane to Madeira on the grounds that Pat’s passport was not valid – even though it had another nine months remaining.

Every day, others are falling foul of the rule – and if it happens to you, it can be a financial disaster. Travel insurers will not pay out for a lost holiday if you tried to travel with an invalid passport.

Jo Rhodes, the deputy travel editor at Which?, says: “Recently, some travellers have been caught out by EU passport rules, meaning they haven’t been able to go on holiday as planned.

“Your passport must have been issued in the past 10 years at the time of entering the EU. Legally, you’re also required to have at least three months left on your passport at the time you plan on exiting the EU. If you have a holiday planned this summer, check your passport now to make sure it meets all the requirements for your destination, so you don’t risk being turned away at the airport.”

She says Which? advises travelling with at least six months’ validity “to be on the safe side”.

She adds: “Despite the legal requirement being three months, UK travellers are strongly advised by the European Commission and the UK government to have no less than six months on the end of their passports. This is because some border guards believe that people tend to stay in the EU for longer than they say and so they’re reluctant to grant you entry if you have less than six months.”

Countries such as Romania, which is in Europe but outside the Schengen zone, stipulate that UK passport holders are required to have at least six months on their passports to enter the country. It is by no means alone.

To add extra excitement to the story, Passport Office workers, who process applications, are approaching the end of a five-week strike. It is thought that up to a quarter of the agency’s 4,000 employees are not in work as normal.

However, while the Passport Office says users should currently allow 10 weeks for their application to be processed , most applications are being sorted out a lot more quickly than that. The 10-week advice includes every kind of application, including those for new passports or where the renewal requires a change of name after a marriage or similar.

If you have a straightforward renewal of an existing passport and your details are all the same – name and address and so on – then people are reporting getting their replacements in days rather than weeks.

The most recent postings on the Passportwaitingtime.co.uk website – which tells you how long it is likely to take to get your UK passport – suggested that simple adult renewals were being processed in an average of 12 days, and often more quickly than that. Adult first passport applications were typically being processed in 17 days (29 days with an interview) while one-week fast-track applications were being dealt with in 5.7 days, it said this week.

Guardian Money has heard similar reports. The online process is the quickest and cheapest way to apply.

A Passport Office spokesperson told us it “remains well positioned to deal with this industrial action, and there is no change in our guidance … People are receiving their passports in good time, with 99.7% of applications processed within the published 10-week timeframe.”

The final sting in the tail is that the passport fees all rose for the first time in five years in February. The fee for a standard online application made from within the UK rose from £75.50 to £82.50 for adults, and from £49 to £53.50 for children. Postal applications went up from £85 to £93 for adults and from £58.50 to £64 for children. If you were born on or before 2 September 1929, it is free.

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British Passport Expired? Here’s What to do.

Last Updated on March 27, 2024 by MyBritishPassport

British Passport expired | A British passport , like any other, comes with an expiration date.   If your passport is near expiry and you need to travel soon, you need to get started with a renewal immediately. British passports are valid for 10 years, but most countries require you to have at least 6 months left on your passport for entry.

Renewing your British passport doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Our process for passport renewal is smooth and efficient, and you will have your new passport in no time.   For more on how it is done, keep reading!

Key Takeaways :

• If your passport is near expiry and you need to travel soon, you are advised to start the renewal process immediately.
• Many countries require six months validity on your passport for entry.
• You can renew your passport at any time, but it is important to note that it can take up to ten weeks or more to process applications.
• British passport renewals from abroad are now done entirely online. Click here to renew your British passport.

When do I need to renew my British passport?

Has your passport already expired, or do you have less than 6 months before it will expire? Well, then, it is time to renew your passport. You can renew your passport at any time, but it is important to note that it can take up to ten weeks or more to process applications. It would be best if you also accommodated for possible delays.

If you need to travel sooner, and your passport is lost or stolen, you may apply for an emergency travel document. Click here to find out more about emergency travel documents .

You must complete an online application form and pay the relevant fees to renew your passport. Your most recent passport, as well as any other passports issued within the last ten years, must be submitted.

Can I renew an expired British passport online?

Yes! In fact, British passport renewals from abroad are now done entirely online. MyBritishPassport works with British citizens abroad to make the process seamless from just about anywhere in the world.  

To renew your British passport from outside the UK, visit our website. You will be able to access the online application form and pay the required fees there. We verify all your documents and ensure they meet all of the requirements of the British passport office. Click here for the online application form .

We will keep you updated on the progress of your British passport application. Once it is ready, your new British passport will be delivered to your doorstep via DHL.

Renewing your British passport from Canada? Click here.

How do I renew my passport with MyBritishPassport?

The online application process is relatively simple. Care should be taken to ensure you complete the online application forms as accurately as possible. HM Passport Office has stringent standards regarding British passports, and even a tiny mistake can result in your application being delayed or rejected.

HM Passport Office does not refund fees for failed or withdrawn applications . – gov.uk

Here are the steps to follow to renew your expired British passport with MyBritishPassport:

• Complete our easy, online British Passport renewal or application form and make payment on our safe and secure platform. Click here to apply now.
• Our team of British passport consultants will verify your documents and forms. We ensure that your passport photos comply and submit your application to the passport office. Your documents are sent to HM Passport Office using our reliable, registered courier service.
• Once your passport is ready, it is delivered to your door.

How long after expiration can you renew a passport UK?

For a standard UK passport renewal, your passport must have expired less than 10 years ago. If your passport has been expired for over 10 years, you will be required to apply for a new one. The process of applying for a renewal for an expired passport is similar to a new passport application. You must provide proof of your identity and citizenship.  

Looking for information about British passport renewals from he USA? Click here.

Can I still travel if my passport is expired?

The short answer to this question is NO. That is if you intend on travelling outside of the country. British citizens need a British passport to travel internationally, and an expired British passport is not a valid travel document.

If you are travelling within the UK, you may be able to get by with other forms of identification such as a driver’s license or national ID card. However, it is always best to have a valid British passport on hand, just in case you are asked to produce it.

British passports are valid for 10 years, so keeping track of the expiration date and ensuring you renew your passport is essential. The best way to avoid delays or complications is to plan ahead and renew your passport well before it expires .

How long before my passport expires Can I renew it?

You can renew your British Passport at any time, regardless of its expiry date. Generally, it is advised to renew your passport when you have about 9 months of validity left, but you can choose to do so earlier.

You can apply to renew your passport at any time , regardless of its expiry date –  Travel Supermarket

About MyBritishPassport

MyBritishPassport is the leading British passport renewal and application service for British citizens living abroad. We are a team of British passport consultants here to help you renew your British passport as swiftly and efficiently as possible.

We offer a fast, online British passport renewal service that can be completed from the comfort of your own home. To find out more about MyBritishPassport, click here .

Other Helpful Guides:

• Renewing your UK passport from South Africa
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• Renew British Passport from Europe

ABOUT MYBRITISHPASSPORT

A member of the U.K.PASSPORTS™ group, MyBritishPassport is the leading international British Passport Service Provider catering to British citizens residing outside of the UK. Since its establishment in 2008, the company has been offering efficient and hassle-free online services for British Passport renewals, replacements, and applications from abroad.

The company has gained a reputation as a leading service provider in the industry, with countless verified five-star reviews from satisfied clients worldwide. This speaks volumes about their excellent service quality.

MyBritishPassport has a highly knowledgeable team of British Passport Consultants who are well-versed in all the requirements of the HM Passport Office. They are continuously updated with the latest rules and regulations governing passport issuance, ensuring that their clients receive the most up-to-date advice and guidance.

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Another British couple caught out by passport rules that lost them £3k – with thousands to be affected this summer

• Kara Godfrey , Deputy Travel Editor
• Published : 11:04, 22 Apr 2024
• Updated : 19:11, 22 Apr 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

ANOTHER Brit couple have been left £3,000 out of pocket after making a common passport mistake.

Huw and Patrica Gosling were due to travel to Sofia in Bulgaria last summer , flying from Birmingham Airport.

The Sun's travel expert Lisa Minot will be taking part in a Live Q&A with readers at midday tomorrow (April 23) to answer your holiday dilemmas - ask her anything.

Whatever the travel question - big or small - make sure to  send over all your questions to Lisa in the form here,  and she'll answer them in the live Q&A.

Calling it their "dream" holiday, they planned to see German composer Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle, which is 20 hours of opera over four days.

However, after arriving at the airport, they were told that Huw wasn't allowed to board.

Read more on passports

Nearly a million Brits a year are overpaying for their passports - how to avoid it

Brits warned to apply for passports now as government announces price hikes

This was because his passport was technically out of date, as it was issued more than 10 years ago.

Rules state that Brits travelling to EU countries must have passports that are no more than 10 years old on the day they arrive in their destination.

While the regulations aren't new - having been in place since the UK left the EU - thousands of holidaymakers still face being caught out.

He told the BBC that while he had nine months left on his passport and knew he needed "more than three months", he was left baffled after being turned away from his flight.

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He said: "When I got to the gate, the woman said 'You can't travel on this passport'.

"At the end of the day, the European rules had changed and I was not allowed to travel.

"I was livid almost with myself, but then I thought 'What more could I have done?'."

He said they lost "everything" including flights, car parking and even their opera tickets, which were the main reason for their trip.

While he managed to get the money back for their hotel, he said they were left around £3,000 out of pocket.

They are just one example of the many Brits who have been caught out by the rules.

As many as 32million applied for passports before the new regulations in 2018.

And new figures have revealed as many as 100,000 holidaymakers could even be affected by the confusing rules this summer.

Last year, dad Peter Holt was also left £3k out of pocket and even had to drive 1,000 miles across Europe to join his family when his passport was out of date.

What do I need to know about my passport?

The Sun's Travel Editor Lisa Minot has explained exactly what Brits need to know about their passports this summer:

"Travellers used to be able to roll over up to nine unused months from their old passport onto a new one.

"But post-Brexit, anyone wanting to travel to the EU can no longer rely on those extra months.

"In order to travel to the EU, all  passports  must be no more than 10 years old on the day you arrive in your European destination.

"And you'll need at least three months on your passport on the day you head back to the UK."

He said: "I am glad to have made it, but the situation was just so unnecessary."

Kirsty Hawes also missed her £1,050 all-inclusive holiday to Majorca for the same reason - with her passport being one day too old.

And celeb Vicky Pattison was recently caught out by other passport rules, and was banned from her flight to Italy.

The TV star was flying to the European destination for wedding planning.

But the airline said her passport was too damaged after her dog had chewed it.

She said on social media: "All the wasted money, how hard it was for me to get the time off, how excited we were, how I've wasted everyone's time.. I'm just really sad I think."

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These are two holiday destinations that have some of the strictest passport rules.

And nearly a million Brits are overpaying for their passports every year - here's how to avoid the extra charge.

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Swift Feed News

Brexit Woes: Passport Problem Hits 2.4 Million Brits

Posted: 27 April 2024 | Last updated: 27 April 2024

2.4 million Brits are facing post-Brexit passport issues with the EU. 

Brits Barred From Entering the EU

Post-Brexit passport rules are barring millions of Britons from entering the EU which is set to cause upheaval and chaos.

Change in Expiry Requirements

The Easter holiday flagged an estimated 2.4 million travellers who have documents that cannot be used for EU trips due to the change in expiry requirements.

Issued Date Less Than Ten Years Old

British passports must have a minimum of three months left before their expiry date and must have an issue date less than ten years old on the day of departure to the EU.

Brits Not Clued Up About Passport Change

Since Brexit, these regulations have become mandatory and many Brits are not in the know which will result in a rude awakening upon their holiday departure.

200 People Falling Victim to the Rule Daily

However, millions of passports issued before September 2018 have longer validity periods. The Independent did an analysis that suggested almost 200 people are falling victim to this rule daily at UK airports.

Britons Labelled ”Third Country Nationals”

The UK has been categorised as “third country nationals” following Britain’s Brexit deal with the EU, following different expiry date rules than when it was a member state.

6,4 Million From UK to EU

The Easter holiday is a 17-day long break which has a high volume of Brits leaving the country over this period. An estimated 6,4 million trips have been scheduled from the UK to Europe.

Longer Validity Periods Now Not Accepted in EU

Instead of wasting the “life of a passport,” a longer validity on older passports was a way around this. Passport holders could renew up to nine months early and thus not lose any time.

Valid Passport Could Still Have You Barred From Travel

The valid passport with an issuing date, of ten years to the day, will no longer be allowed to enter the EU even if it still has months remaining before expiry.

32 Million Could Be Affected

This rule has confused many as they embark on travels under the impression that they still have a valid passport. Some 32 million people have passports issued before September 2018 and these will prove null and void.

Passenger Checked in but Can’t Board Flight

A recent traveller, Ruth Wade, was denied entrance to her flight despite checking in for her flight 24 hours before.

Issuing Date More Vital Than Validity

Wade’s passport is valid until October 2024, however, the expiry date was ten years from the issue date resulting in her not having been able to board the flight.

Brits Unaware of the Rule

Brits are unaware of this rule although many have disregarded it because they believe their passport validity is the decider. The rules were explained publicly, but many are still in the dark.

Added Months Causing Problems

Official data indicates that 706, 000 passports were issued by HM Passport Office in March 2014, an estimated 80 per cent of those will be renewals which could have had added months.

More Family European Trips Than Anywhere Else

Most travellers head to the EU due to the proximity, the Geneva routes are busy for winter sports enthusiasts and the city breaks most popular routes are Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris and Rome.

The Onus Is on the Passenger

Airlines state that it is the passenger’s responsibility to ensure that they comply with the immigration rules of their desired destination.

Airlines Will Not Be Held Responsible

The airlines will not be held responsible for any booking neglect even when the passengers can book flights and check in before the flight with their “expired passport.”

Insurance Not Covering Validity Issues

Travel insurers will not pay out for losses related to passport validity issues.

Renewing Is Easy, so No Excuses

It is advised that all persons acquaint themselves with this rule. A government spokesperson said: “It is quick and easy to renew your passport online or at a Post Office.”

Up to Date to Save You Thousands

It is advised to ensure that you familiarize yourself with the country of destination requirements, and your travel needs and to keep your identity documents up to date.

The post Brexit Woes: Passport Problem Hits 2.4 Million Brits first appeared on Swift Feed .

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / maramade.

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