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Travel blogger Chelsea Rodd was left stranded at London Gatwick Airport after being denied a flight to Italy owing to a passport issue she believes may not be common knowledge

A woman has issued a warning to all British passport holders after her holiday plans ended in tears at the airport. Travel blogger Chelsea Rodd fell victim of a rule she was unaware of, resulting in her having to cancel her plans despite the fact her passport is yet to expire.

“I should be in Milan right now with the girls,” began a tearful Chelsea in a TikTok video. She continued, explaining that after arriving at London Gatwick Airport ready to drop off her baggage, her passport was subsequently checked and it soon became apparent she wouldn’t be heading 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 explained.

So what’s the problem? “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 revealed.

Chelsea continued: “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 fly with a different airline, on alternative flights and to another airport all proved in vain. “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.”

To compound her misery, Chelsea revealed she will now be forced to miss out on numerous content creation opportunities she had arranged with a number of brands over the course of the past year.

She closed by urging 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.”

Writing in response, one TikTok user shared the same frustration, penning: “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.”

A second person added: “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 fumed: “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.”

Passport holders have been told that taking just their passport may not be good enough

The Foreign Office is advising travellers to take two essential documents when going on holiday. In addition to your passport, they recommend carrying another form of identification.

As part of their foreign travel checklist, officials urge people to “take an extra form of photo ID with you, other than your passport.” Alongside this, they also advise holidaymakers and business travellers to have a contingency or “backup plan” in place.

This is intended for situations where you may need to access important information like your accommodation details, flight information, passport number, emergency contacts and insurance policy. This could be crucial if you lose your phone.

Travellers are encouraged to share this information with trusted friends or family members, or to store it securely online using a reliable data storage platform. The Foreign Office also advises taking a few additional documents and completing certain tasks before departure, as part of their broader travel recommendations.

You should:

Recently, the HM Passport Office sent an urgent text to people heading on holiday. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, in a text, they urge people to follow a link before they fly.

They write: “Remember to check that your passport is valid for the country you are travelling to.” They add that you need to “check the entry requirements” listing their website.

Following the link, it takes you to the Foreign travel advice page. Listing a series of destinations, the page is there to help people get “advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.”

If you need to renew your passport, you can do it via the official GOV.UK website. The site allows you to apply for a new passport, renew your current one, update personal details or request a replacement – all while making secure payments online.

It’s important to note that passport fees vary depending on your age and how you apply. Applying online is the more affordable option, saving you £12.50 compared to applying by post. For full details on how to apply for a new UK passport, including costs and delivery times, you can visit Liverpool Echo.

As Trump’s order stirs anxiety, White House clarifies that the fee only applies to new applicants and will be levied per petition.

The United States has issued a clarification to its new H-1B visa policy, saying that the new $100,000 fee for skilled workers will be levied per petition and will not apply to current visa holders.

The announcement on Saturday came a day after US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said it would be paid annually, and would apply to people seeking a new visa as well as renewals.

Lutnick’s comment prompted major tech firms, including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Alphabet, which is Google’s parent company, to warn employees with H1-B visas to stay in the country or return quickly.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, however, clarified that the fee will only apply to new visas and that the rule “does not impact the ability of any current visa holder to travel to/from the US”.

“This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition,” she wrote.

“Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter… This applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders,” she added.

The executive order imposing the new fee was signed by President Donald Trump on Friday night and is scheduled to take effect at 12:01am on (04:01 GMT) Sunday.

It is scheduled to expire after a year. But it could be extended if the Trump administration determines that is in the interest of the US to keep it.

H-1B visas allow companies to sponsor foreign workers with specialised skills – such as scientists, engineers and computer programmers – to work in the US, initially for three years, but extendable to six.

The visas are widely used by the tech industry and are doled out through a lottery system. Indian nationals account for nearly three-quarters of the permits.

Critics say the programme undercuts American workers, luring people from overseas who are often willing to work for as little as $60,000 annually. That is well below the $100,000-plus salaries typically paid to US technology workers.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday that Trump’s latest plan “was being studied by all concerned, including by Indian industry″. The ministry warned that “this measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. Government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the US authorities”.

The US Chamber of Commerce also expressed worry.

“We’re concerned about the impact on employees, their families and American employers,” it said in a statement. “We’re working with the Administration and our members to understand the full implications and the best path forward.”

On the popular Chinese social media app Rednote, meanwhile, many H-1B holders shared stories of rushing back to the US — some just hours after landing abroad – fearing they would be subject to the new fee.

Some people who were already on planes preparing to leave the country on Friday de-boarded over fears they may not be allowed to re-enter the US, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Allen Orr, an immigration lawyer and immigration chair of the National Bar Association, told Al Jazeera that the latest order has caused “mass confusion”.

Workers who held new or renewed H-1B visas and who were outside the US were told not to come, delaying start dates and costing money due to the “cancellation of flights and housing”, Orr said.

The lawyer added that Trump’s order was sending the wrong message to talented workers living abroad.

“If it applies to next year, $100,000 for an H-1B worker just basically puts it out of the market, and many of these jobs will then just remain overseas,” he said.

“The American secret is that we’ve basically taken talent from around the world and colonised it and made of the United States a sort of stamp. When we stop letting that talent into the United States, we’re hurting our brand,” he added.

The UK Government has issued an urgent reminder to all passport holders who are planning to travel abroad in the near future, whether it be for a holiday or business purposes

Passport holders across the UK have received a crucial warning from HM Passport Office. Officials are urging anyone planning holidays or business trips abroad to carry out one vital check.

Text messages circulating read: “Remember to check that your passport is valid for the country you are travelling to.” The guidance also emphasises the need to “check the entry requirements” via their official website. This resource lists numerous destinations and helps travellers access “advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.”

France serves as a prime example of a popular holiday spot and travel guidance highlights that France operates under Schengen area regulations. Under these rules, your passport must have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive, and have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue).

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Before you start packing your bags, you need to make sure you’re clued up on the requirements. The UK Government has issued a fresh warning to holidaymakers, which reads: “Do not book travel until you have a valid passport – your new passport will not have the same number as your old one.”

If it’s time for a renewal, head over to the official GOV.UK website to submit your application. You can replace, renew, apply for or update your passport and even make a payment online.

The cost of a passport can vary based on your age and whether you apply online or via post. Applying online could save you £12.50 compared to sending your application by post.

A change is set to be implemented at self-service border control systems later this year, and British passport holders have been issued a warning about what they need to do

A travel expert has issued a warning to all British passport holders planning a European getaway from October 12 onwards.

Vix Aguilera, an ATOL and ABTA protected UK travel agent, took to TikTok to outline alterations being implemented to eGates, which are automated self-service border control systems. “A new EES [Entry/Exit system] is going to apply to all non-EU citizens travelling to the Schengen area and essentially it will replace the need to queue and get a stamp,” she warned.

The change will require travellers to submit facial recognition and fingerprints at a new self-service kiosk instead. It comes following a warning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain.

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Sharing details of the new change, Vix explained: “You will be giving your biometric data upon arrival to the country. This is then going to be stored on a central database and linked to your UK passport.”

The travel agent noted that the record will remain valid for three years, and therefore, you only need to complete the process once when you first enter, reports Yorkshire Live.

“Now this is the interesting bit – it’s going to be rolled out from October 12 in a phased approach,” Vix continued. “Although every country is within their rights to do it straight away to cut down on the need for extra queues.”

She added: “The way they are going to be doing this is by staggering it, so from days one to 29 there’s going to be no minimum requirement and after that there’s going to be 10% of passengers required to scan etc.”

The positive news, according to Vix, is that airport security personnel will be available to guide you through the procedure when you arrive. Therefore, for now, you don’t need to undertake any advanced preparation. It’s important to read up on how the system works beforehand though.

“You just turn up to the eGates then have yourself directed by staff,” she explained.

Vix proceeded to caution, however, that you shouldn’t mistake this for ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorization System – a fresh travel requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to 30 European countries. That’s not going to be rolled out until the end of 2026, and it will require a pre-travel authorisation.

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So, who does the October 12 change impact? “Obviously, if you are travelling from this date, if you are going to a Schengen area, and if you are a non-EU citizen and you are looking to stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period,” Vix clarified.

One TikTok user praised the guidance and commented: “Thank you for explaining this so well. I was confused thinking it’s the ETS, and since I’m travelling in December, worried that it being new might give me issues, but this is good info to have.”

Why is this alteration being introduced? The UK government’s website, which offers additional details, explains: “EES is designed to improve border security within the EU and its neighbouring countries, and reduce illegal migration in the Schengen area. It will automate border control checks to help the EU stop visitors overstaying.”

It adds: “The checks may take a few minutes, so be prepared to wait during busy times. “If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras International, EES checks will be completed at the border, before you leave the UK.

“You may also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you leave the Schengen area.”

The Schengen area comprises the following countries:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

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What are the rules for seat holders?

Spain is the most popular holiday destination for Brits, but there are new rules to be aware of if you are travelling in 2022 – including passport rules and EHIC cards

Spain remains the top holiday choice for UK travellers, with millions flocking there annually to bask in the sunshine, explore its vibrant cities, and savour authentic Spanish dishes. This year looks set to follow the same pattern, with travel industry insiders forecasting a record-breaking summer for overseas getaways.

When planning a Spanish holiday, or any international trip, it’s crucial to stay informed about current regulations and entry criteria. This has become especially vital following the post-Brexit changes that have been implemented.

For example, Spain, alongside other Schengen zone countries, now mandates that UK passport holders must have passports with a “date of issue” within 10 years of their arrival date. Additionally, passports must remain valid for at least three months beyond the planned departure date from the Schengen area, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) states: “Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to. You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.”

British passport holders are permitted to enter Spain and the broader Schengen region for holidays, family visits, business purposes, cultural or sporting events, or short-term educational programmes, for up to 90 days within any 180-day timeframe. Upon arrival, your passport will be stamped, and it’s crucial to ensure you get another stamp when leaving.

If not, it could appear as though you overstayed the 90-day limit, potentially causing issues if you attempt to re-enter the Schengen area later in the year.

To enter Spain, you might need to present a return or onward ticket, proof of sufficient funds for your stay, travel insurance documentation, and confirmation of your hotel booking or proof of address if you’re staying at your own property. If you’re lodging with others, such as family or friends, an invitation or proof of their address may be necessary.

Importing meat, milk or products containing them into Spain is prohibited, with exceptions for items like powdered infant milk, baby food, and special foods or pet feed required for medical reasons. Moreover, if you’re carrying cash or travellers cheques amounting to 10,000 euros or more, you must declare it to the authorities.

After declaring, you’ll receive a certified document indicating that the money was brought with you. Failure to produce this document could result in your money being confiscated upon departure.

Loughborough Lightning head coach Vic Burgess says her side have had a “target on their backs” all season as they aim for a historic third consecutive Netball Super League title.

Lightning visit London Pulse in the major play-off semi-final on Friday (20:00 BST) at Copper Box Arena, looking to seal a seventh Grand Final spot in eight seasons.

The defending, three-time champions are the only side to beat Pulse at the Copper Box this season and Burgess says Loughborough “will treat the game as our final”.

“We want to bank our space in that Grand Final as early as possible so we have to give it everything,” Burgess told BBC Radio Leicester.

Pulse and Lightning finished first and second respectively in the Super League table, with the winner of their ‘major’ semi-final progressing automatically to the Grand Final on 6 July.

The loser still has a second chance to reach the showpiece game, hosting the winner of Friday’s ‘minor’ semi-final between third-placed Manchester Thunder and fourth-placed London Mavericks the following weekend.

Holidaymakers with UK passports are facing a major change at airports after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer outlined the terms of the UK’s new ‘EU reset deal’ – and it could come into effect this year

A major change affecting holidaymakers with British passports is set to come into effect. Sir Keir Starmer announced the news as part of what he described as a ‘common sense’ deal with the EU, reached nine years after the UK first voted to leave the European Union.

Starmer described the deal as a “win-win” as he shook hands with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in London on Monday (May 19). “Britain is back on the world stage,” he declared. “[The deal] gives us unprecedented access to the EU market, the best of any country… all while sticking to the red lines in our manifesto.”

The PM went on to explain the impact of the “new partnership between an independent Britain and our allies in Europe” on voters’ daily lives.

“Let me set out why it is good for Britain,” he said in a speech posted to X.

“Today’s deal will […] help British holidaymakers. We’re confirming that they will be able to use e-gates when they travel to Europe, ending those huge queues at passport control.”

Since Brexit, British passport holders have been considered “visa-exempt third-country nationals” and have generally had to queue for manual checks at border control to have their passport stamped.

Brits were able to use e-gates at a limited number of airports in Spain and Portugal.

However, the EU has now agreed to ease checks on British travellers more universally.

The deal states that “there will be no legal barriers to e-gate use for British nationals travelling to and from European Union.”

When will I be able to use e-gates?

It has not yet been confirmed when the changes will come into effect.

However, the EU plans to launch its new Entry/Exit System (EES) in October 2025, replacing the need for non-EU citizens to have their passports stamped. It is thought that more EU airports will allow UK passengers to use the e-gates after the new system comes into effect.

The system will require travellers to have their fingerprints scanned and a photograph taken so they can be registered to a database. Their data will then be stored for three years.

Those who do not provide a fingerprint scan and photo will be denied entry.

Some EU airports will still require additional checks and Brits may not be able to use e-gates here.

Brits will also still be subject to the ’90-day rule’, whereby eligible non-EU citizens can spend 90 days in any 180-day period in the EU without a visa.

Travel records will be digitised under the new EES to enforce this rule and increase border security.

The ‘landmark deal’ is also expected to “lower food prices at checkouts”, improve UK defence and put “more money in people’s pockets,” according to Starmer. Von der Leyen described it as “a historic moment […] opening a new chapter in our unique relationship.”

Many people across the United States are rushing to replace their driver’s licenses and state IDs with federally compliant licences, known as Real ID cards, now required to board domestic flights.

As of May 7, all US citizens more than 18 years of age must show proof of identification that meets the 2005 Real ID Act’s rules, which set higher federal security standards. But this change in federal travel requirements is creating some confusion about what it means for noncitizens.

Passed two decades ago by Congress in response to the bipartisan 9/11 Commission’s recommendations following the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC, the aim of the programme was to raise security standards for domestic travel and federal and nuclear facility access.

But immigration experts say the law’s enactment during the second Trump administration has left noncitizens – including some of the 13.5 million people legally in the US on green cards, work and student visas and humanitarian parole – uncertain about what the rule change could mean for their travel.

US President Donald Trump has promised and prioritised mass deportations of criminals and undocumented people in the US. But in practice, his policies have swept up US citizens and people with a legal immigration status. He has also tried to end legal pathways that allowed people to temporarily live and work in the US. Many of these actions are being challenged in court.

Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about Real ID and its effect on citizen versus noncitizen travel.

What is special about Real ID?

The Department of Homeland Security says the aim of the Real ID requirements was to bring consistency to the minimum documentation requirements needed for state-issued IDs – driver’s license, learner’s permits and nondriver IDs.

Now, all states issuing Real ID-compliant cards require people applying for those cards to present certain documentation. The exact requirements vary by state, but in most cases, the minimum documents needed include:

• Proof of identity in the form of a US birth certificate, US passport, or a green card.
• Social Security Number in the form of a Social Security card, W-2 form, or a pay stub.
• Two proofs of address of principal residence, which may be a utility bill, bank statement or mortgage statement.
• Lawful status proof, including a valid employment authorisation document, Social Security Number or a valid unexpired visa.

A Real ID card bears a black or gold star or a US flag in its upper right corner. State-issued ID cards that don’t have these markers will not be accepted as proof of identity to board domestic flights or enter federal facilities.

Here are some examples of what Real IDs look like:

Examples of Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses posted on the Department of Homeland Security’s website.

If I don’t have a Real ID, does it mean I cannot travel domestically any more?

No, you can still travel domestically provided you have another form of identification that is Real ID-compliant.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lists many other forms of acceptable IDs, including options for people who are not US citizens. Among them:

• State-issued enhanced driver’s licenses or enhanced IDs, which provide proof of identity when crossing the US borders in a vehicle.
• US passports or US passport cards.
• Foreign government-issued passports.
• Department of Homeland Security trusted traveller cards under programmes such as Global Entry, which let US citizens, green card holders and some foreign nationals go through expedited lanes at airports.
• US Department of Defense IDs, including IDs issued to dependents of people in the military.
• Lawful permanent resident cards, also known as green cards.
• Border crossing cards, a document used by Mexican citizens to enter the US.
• Acceptable photo IDs issued by federally recognised tribal nations, including enhanced tribal cards.
• HSPD-12 PIV cards, which are used by federal contractors to access facilities and systems.
• Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada cards.
• Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC).
• US Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Cards.
• US Merchant Mariner Credentials, which show evidence of a mariner’s qualifications; and
• Veteran Health Identification Cards (VHIC).

There’s one big caveat: TSA says the list of acceptable IDs is subject to change without notice and advises travellers to check the list before travelling.

How could Real ID affect noncitizens as they travel in the US?

Although numerous forms of IDs are accepted for noncitizens, the Real ID policy could have a chilling effect on travelers whose documentation differentiates them from citizens, immigration experts told us.

As one example, immigration attorney Prerna Lal said that, in any interaction with federal authorities, carrying a foreign passport could lead to scrutiny of that person’s identity if they lack legal immigration status.

“Even with valid foreign passports, undocumented individuals and mixed-status families may avoid travelling due to concerns about interactions with TSA or law enforcement, despite passports remaining acceptable documentation,” Lal said. “This fear of enforcement, rather than access to IDs, is the primary chilling effect on the immigrant community.”

What happens if people don’t have an acceptable ID at the airport?

A TSA officer may ask a person to complete an identity verification process. If the identity is confirmed, that person will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint.

Can an immigrant with temporary status obtain a Real ID?

Yes, the Real ID regulations define an individual in a “temporary lawful status” as a person who has a pending application for asylum; has a pending or approved application for temporary protected status; has approved deferred action; or has a pending application for lawful permanent resident or conditional permanent resident status.

The Real ID Act lets states issue temporary, Real ID driver licenses and ID cards to people with temporary status. People with a temporary immigration status are usually granted temporary valid employment authorisation and Social Security numbers, which they can use to apply for Real IDs. Their temporary Real ID will remain valid until their lawful status expires. Florida is one exception: The Sunshine State requires almost all immigrants with lawful status to renew their IDs annually. Green card holders in Florida don’t have to renew a REAL ID every year; their Real ID is valid until their green card expires. Most green cards are valid for 10 years, but people can apply for a renewal.

Also, people with valid student or work visas can present their unexpired passports, visas and I-94 forms – documents that show a person’s authorised period of stay in the US – for proof of identity and legal status and get a Real ID.

States that provide non-Real ID compliant ID cards to people without legal immigration status can still do so, according to DHS, but the cards must clearly state that they are not acceptable for Real ID purposes and must have a unique design or colour to differentiate them from compliant cards. These non-Real ID-compliant ID cards cannot be used as a form of identification for domestic travel.

Could a Real ID prevent an arrest by immigration authorities? Does it confirm that a person is legally in the US?

Lal told PolitiFact that a Real ID alone does not prevent a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s arrest or confirm a lawful immigration status. Although Real ID-compliant identification requires proof of lawful presence for issuance, it is not proof of current immigration status.

“ICE conducts its own verification, and possessing a Real ID does not grant immunity from enforcement actions,” Prerna said.

Prerna said that people should present to ICE valid, government-issued documentation that shows their current immigration status, such as a green card, employment authorisation card or visa.