British holidaymakers who still possess a burgundy passport have been urged to double-check a crucial detail before they jet off on their trips.
While the UK made the switch from the burgundy passports to the new blue ones in 2020 following Brexit, many travellers are still using their old ones which are in date. These passports are usually valid for 10 years, meaning that the last of those will disappear from the public in 2030.
But with summer approaching and tourists already planning their trips, those still in possession of their pre-Brexit passports have been told to be aware of potential issues that could render their travel documents invalid.
A TikTok video by Rudge Daily has highlighted the importance for burgundy passport holders to perform “vital checks” on their passports, particularly focusing on the issue and expiry dates.
In the video, the presenter emphasised: “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 to clarify that for trips to European Union (EU) countries, including the Republic of Ireland, passports need to be less than 10 years old on the day of entry and must remain valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date from the EU.
He added: “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.”
Prior to 2018, passports could be valid for up to 10 years and nine months, due to the carryover of any remaining time from the previous passport. For instance, if you renewed your passport with five months left before expiration, the new passport would be valid for 10 years and five months.
However, even if your passport appears to have sufficient time left under the three-month rule, it may still be invalid for EU travel if it was issued over 10 years ago.
(Image: Maksims Grigorjevs via Getty Images)
Rudge Daily advised: “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].”
This issue primarily affects burgundy passport holders, as blue passports were issued in 2020 or later and are still within the valid timeframe. Nevertheless, parents should verify their children’s passports, even if they have blue ones, since children’s passports typically have a five-year validity period.
Passport validity rules for non-EU countries
The passport requirements can vary depending on your destination. For instance, if you’re jetting off to the US or Canada, your passport needs to be valid for the duration of your stay, but there’s no need for the three-month buffer.
However, it’s always a good idea to have an extra six months validity to avoid any potential hiccups.
New Zealand’s passport rules are similar to those in the EU, requiring your passport to be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date. Meanwhile, Australia insists that your passport should be valid for at least six months from your date of entry into the country.
Countries such as Thailand, China, Indonesia, India and the United Arab Emirates all follow the same guidance as Australia. On the other hand, Japan only requires your passport to be valid for the entirety of your stay.
While the UK Post Office suggests having extra validity just to be safe, Japan doesn’t mandate it for travel.
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