Holidaymakers have been issued an urgent warning to check the validity of their pre-Brexit burgundy passports before planning any international trips in 2025. Although the UK stopped issuing these passports after leaving the EU in 2020, they remain valid for travel this year as long as they haven’t expired. However, many countries require at least six months’ validity on a passport for entry, and some EU countries have additional rules. Alvaro Iturmendi, a travel insurance expert at Confused.com, advises: “Booking your holidays can be very exciting, and a welcome distraction to the beginning of the year blues. But no matter how far in advance you’re planning, it’s never too early to check your passport’s validity, so you don’t get caught out last minute.”
Travellers are urged to check their passport’s validity so they don’t ‘get caught out’
(Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Specifically, for travel to EU countries like Spain or the Netherlands, passports must have been issued within the last 10 years before the departure date. Research by Confused.com found that less than half (43%) of travellers were aware of this rule, with Alvaro noting: “And if your passport doesn’t meet this regulation, it could mean you’re denied entry into the country, or may not even be allowed on the flight in the first place.”, reports the Mirror. Travel expert Alvaro has warned holidaymakers about the potential chaos that could ensue due to passport issues post-Brexit, saying: “Either way, it’s likely to lead to a lot of disruption to your holiday plans.” He also highlighted the costs involved with emergency passports, stating: “An emergency passport could cost up to £207 depending on its urgency,” and added the inconvenience of last-minute arrangements: “And if you leave it to the last minute, having to take time off work and travel to visit a passport office could become costly and time consuming. This is especially true if you need to visit an office far from home. Unfortunately, travel insurance will not cover the cost of last minute travel for an emergency passport, nor for any missed flights or holidays.” Alvaro advises travellers to be proactive with their documents: “It’s important to always double-check your passport’s expiration date as soon as you start planning your trip, and leave yourself ample time to renew it if needed. By using our passport checker, you can save a great deal of time, money, and stress.” For those needing renewal, he suggests: “If your passport needs to be renewed, you can apply for a new one either by post or online.
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