Overview
- EU guidance requires UK passports to be issued within the past 10 years and to have at least three months’ validity after leaving the bloc, with many non‑EU destinations demanding three to six months.
- Travellers holding older red passports renewed before October 2018 may fall foul of the EU issue‑date rule even if the expiry date appears later, according to widely shared advice.
- Airlines and insurance experts warn that invalid or damaged passports can lead to denied boarding and may void travel insurance claims, so checks must include expiry, issue date and physical condition.
- Passport page availability can also block travel, with some countries requiring two or more blank pages; extra pages cannot be added, so renewal is necessary if space runs out.
- Wizz Air says its analysis of HM Passport Office data shows over 1.4 million UK passports expire by the end of June 2026, prompting reminders to renew early, budget for current fees (£94.50–£107.50) or fast‑track costs (from £222), and allow for processing times that can lengthen before summer.