More than one million British citizens may encounter travel disruptions this summer due to passport validity regulations for European destinations. Research indicates that 705,904 UK passports have less than three months of validity remaining, and an additional 347,268 were issued more than a decade ago. Together, these passports could prevent over a million holders from meeting the entry criteria for various holiday locations.
In the Schengen Area, which includes countries like France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, non-EU travelers are required to possess a passport issued within the last ten years at the date of entry and valid for at least three months beyond their planned departure. Passports issued before September 2018 may not comply with these requirements, especially if unused validity from older passports was transferred to new ones. This practice, which was common before September 2018, means some passports, while technically still valid, may not meet the Schengen zone's entry stipulations.
Data from HM Passport Office shows that 2.37 million passports are set to expire this year. Tim Knighton, a travel insurance expert at Compare the Market, advised travelers to verify their passports and the specific entry requirements of their intended destinations. "Many travellers assume if they have a valid passport they can travel overseas without any issues, but that's not always the case," Knighton stated, emphasizing the need to check validity periods extending beyond the trip length for popular European destinations.
Beyond validity, lost and stolen passports also pose a risk. In 2025, 422,705 UK passports were reported lost or stolen. While passport replacement processing times have reportedly been swift, with a median of six days in 2024 and 2025, replacing a passport abroad can be stressful and costly. Knighton also noted that while some travel insurance policies cover lost or stolen passports, policy details vary, and travelers should compare options to ensure adequate protection.