Brits should check their passports (Image: Getty Images)
Brits are being urged by Wizz Air to check their passports after data revealed that more than 1.4million UK adults could find their documents expiring before the summer break.
The budget carrier revealed that they obtained data from HM Passport Office and discovered that over 1.4million documents are set to expire by the end of June 2026. For those who haven’t inspected their passports, it could spell disaster for their holiday before it’s even begun, with additional complications to boot.
That’s because an expired passport not only results in being refused boarding at the airport, but your travel insurance is unlikely to honour any claims since you’ve travelled with an invalid document, thereby invalidating your policy for that journey.
With the summer break merely months away, Wizz Air is encouraging travellers to verify their passport validity immediately before the busy period to prevent any potential eleventh-hour anxiety or scrapped trips.
For Britons travelling to Europe, there’s one rule that continues to trip up holidaymakers. That’s because you must verify not one but two dates on your document.
Checking now gives you a buffer to sort it before the summer (Image: Getty Images)
The first is the issue date; UK travellers must possess passports issued less than 10 years before the date they enter a country. If you’re utilising an older passport, it may still be valid for your travel dates, but could exceed the 10-year requirement.
However, you must also verify the expiry date. Passports must remain valid for a minimum of three months after your planned return date from EU nations, whilst certain non-EU destinations demand six months’ validity.
It’s essential to assess your passport’s validity based on when you intend to arrive back in the UK, not your departure date.
Should you be uncertain about entry requirements for a particular destination, one of the most reliable resources for UK passport holders is the Foreign Office’s travel guidance for that country, as they provide updates on any modifications you should know about.
Yvonne Moynihan, Managing Director at Wizz Air UK said: « Don’t let an expiring passport ruin your summer plans. Summer holidays should be about excitement, not last-minute stress. With peak booking season underway, now is the time to check if your passport is valid. A quick two-minute check today could save weeks of disruption later and ensure travellers can book with confidence and enjoy the full range of destinations across our network. »
Should you discover that your passport won’t remain valid for the summer months and wish to arrange a holiday, then renewing your document is straightforward. You can either renew it online for £94.50, or via a paper application costing £107.
To renew your passport you’ll need both your old passport and any valid passports you possess from another country – send either a colour photocopy of every page (including blank ones) or the physical passport. You can also discover more at gov.uk/renew-adult-passport..
A word of warning – if you’ve already arranged a trip and had to provide your passport details, ensure you update those on your booking if necessary!
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