Luton Airport says you might be turned away even if your passport is in date and perfect condition
An airport has issued a warning to travellers hoping to jet away over the next few weeks. With Christmas on the horizon along with school holidays, December can be a busy time.
But Luton Airport is urging people to make a key check or risk not being allowed to fly. For even if their passport is in date and in pristine condition, if they miss one thing, it could put a halt to their trip.
It posted on x, formerly twitter: “Is your passport over 10 years old? If you’re travelling to an EU country, you will need to renew your passport before you travel. Check your passport here.
It goes further on its website telling people: “If you’re travelling in the EU, please check your passport is valid for the dates you are travelling. You will need to renew your passport if:
- There’s less than three months left on your passport while you’re travelling
- Your passport is 10 years old or more on the day you enter an EU country”
According to the Post Office different countries have varying passport requirements. It says: “Different countries have specific entry requirements. If your passport isn’t valid, it could wreak havoc with your travel plans.”
It says: “Different countries have their own rules about passport validity. Some countries might ask that your passport’s valid for your whole time away and even a bit longer, sometimes up to six months. If you don’t check these rules, you could run into problems, like not being able to board your flight or being denied entry when you land.”
Europe
“Since the UK left the European Union in 2020, UK passport holders are now seen as ‘third-country nationals’ by EU and Schengen countries. This means the entry rules have changed. And many UK holidaymakers are still being caught out by them.
“Passports issued after 2018 are valid for exactly 10 years. But if your passport was issued before September 2018, it might be valid for up to 10 years and nine months. This is because, before 2018, the passport office would add up to nine extra months from your old passport to your new one.
“This means some people have passports that haven’t officially expired and are still valid for travel worldwide. The exception is travel in Europe, where passports must be less than 10 years old. To travel to Europe and Schengen countries, your passport must be:
- Issued less than 10 years before your departure date
- Valid for at least three months after your planned return date
“And remember, you can now only stay in Schengen countries for up to 90 days within a six-month period. Before Brexit, you could stay as long as you wanted.”