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UK passport warning issued for flights to France, Greece, Italy and Spain

Brits have been urged to make two essential passport checks before heading abroad this summer as data shows more than one million UK passports could fail entry requirements

[Border Control and passport control post in the terminal building ]

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Brits urged to make passport checks before travelling(Image: Nicolas Economou/Getty Images)

British travellers heading to France, Greece, Italy and Spain have been urged to make a crucial passport check before heading on their summer holidays as new data reveals more than one million UK passports could fail entry requirements.

Brits entering the EU Schengen area must have a passport issued less than ten years before the start of the trip and have an expiry date at least three months after the return.

New data reveals that more than 705,000 UK passports currently have fewer than three months validity remaining, meaning travellers would be unable to board their plane.

[Different airlines will have slightly different rules - with some that could catch holidaymakers out at the airport]

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Over one million Brits have invalid passports according to new data (Image: Getty)

A further 350,000 were issued more than a decade ago, meaning more than one million could fail entry requirements for some overseas destinations.

Holidaymakers have been urged to check their passports before travelling abroad in the coming months following this new analysis of HM Passport Office data from June 2026.

The 10-year rule is particularly relevant for travellers whose passports were issued before September 2018. Before then, when renewing a passport, HM Passport Office could add up to nine months of unused validity from an old passport to a new one.

This means some passports may still be in date but no longer meet the Schengen entry requirements.

In total, HM Passport Office data shows that 2.37 million passports are due to expire during 2026.

Tim Knighton, travel insurance expert at Compare the Market, said: Many travellers assume if they have a valid passport they can travel overseas without any issues, but thats not always the case.

"Some countries, including many popular European destinations, require several months validity extending beyond the length of a trip, so its important to check the entry requirements for each destination before travelling.

With more than 700,000 UK passports now having less than three months validity remaining, its worth travellers taking a few minutes to check theirs before heading abroad.

"Renewing a passport early could help avoid unnecessary stress and reduce the risk of holiday plans being disrupted."

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