Brits face 2 passport rules to holiday in these 31 countries | Travel News | Travel

Brits going on holiday to parts of Europe must follow two important passport rules or face being denied entry.

The passport rules apply when entering 31 European countries, including popular tourist destinations like Spain, France, Italy, Portugal and Greece. If you are travelling to a country in the European Union, or Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, then you must make sure you have a passport that has a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive, AND have an ‘expiry date’ of at least three months after the day you plan to leave.

It means that if you renewed your passport before October 1, 2018, then it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago.

If your passport doesn’t meet both of these requirements then you will be denied entry as you don’t have a valid travel document to enter these countries.

Your Europe explains: “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.

“Children and minors must have their own passport and visa, if required. You may also have to produce other supporting documents to border officials upon arrival such as an invitation letter, proof of lodging, return or round-trip ticket.”

The passport rules apply in the following 31 countries in Europe:

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

Brits who need to renew their passport to meet the two requirements will face increased fees from April 10, 2025, as new charges take effect.

Subject to approval by Parliament, the fee for a standard online application in the UK will rise from £88.50 to £94.50 for adults and £57.50 to £61.50 for children.

Postal applications will increase from £100 to £107 for adults and £69 to £74 for children, while the fee for a Premium Service (1 day) application in the UK will rise from £207.50 to £222 for adults and £176.50 to £189 for children.

If you’re apply from overseas, the fee for a standard online application for a UK passport will rise from £101 to £108 for adults and £65.50 to £70 for children, while overseas standard paper applications will increase from £112.50 to £120.50 for adults and £77 to £82.50 for children.

Holidaymakers are advised that they should apply in good time before travelling as standard applications can take around three weeks to process.