Is my passport still valid? New rules and prices around soon-to-be expired ID

Have you checked your passport? (Picture: Getty)

With more bank holidays coming up, many of us are excited to leave the country. But before you set off, you’ll want to double check your passport.

We don’t mean check that it is definitely in your bag or pocket, but really pay attention to your passport details.

That’s because since Brexit, new rules have come into play and are now in effect for British travellers.

Since the UK has now left the European Union, travelling to Europe and the Schengen Zone comes with some complications, as UK passport holders are now’third-party nationals’.

This means that your passport now needs to be issued less than ten years before your arrival date to the destination.

So, now the issue date is just as important as the expiry date, meaning your passport needs to be less than ten years to the day you’re landing.

Some people are being turned away at the airport (Picture: Getty)

Before, you could travel with a passport that was out of date by up to nine months, (meaning you were able to use it for more than ten years).

Now, not only must your passport be less than ten years old, you also need to make sure it has at least three months remaining on its expiry.

Simply put, if you’re travelling to Spain on 5 May, you need to make sure your passport was issued after 5 May 2014 and expires no later than 5 August 2024.

Anyone who fails these rules will be turned away, which is already happening to some British travellers.

What are the new passport renewal rules?

These rules apply to Brits travelling to all EU member states, except Ireland. They also apply to other countries in Europe’s Schengen area, such as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, and Monaco.

Now, your UK passport must:

• have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the EU country (the date of issue)
• be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave (the date of expiry)

How can I check if my passport is still valid?

Check the date of issue on your passport – is it issued within ten years of the day you land?

Add three months to the day you leave the country – does your passport expire after that?

If the answer to the questions above is ‘yes’ then you don’t need to worry. But if it is ‘no’ then you’ll need to either apply for a passport renewal or get an emergency travel document (especially if your travel date is soon, or you get turned away at the airport).

How much is passport renewal in 2024?

You will need to renew your passport though the HM Passport Office, which allows you to renew it through the post or online.

You can use the online service to renew your passport at a cost of £88.50. You’ll need: a digital photo; a credit or debit card; and your old passport including passports to other countries.

You can get a paper application form by either going to a Post Office that has a Check and Send service, or calling the Passport Adviceline. This costs £100.

To renew your child’s passport, it’s slightly cheaper. Online, the service costs £57.50 – you’ll need a digital photo of your child, their old passport, any valid passports from other countries, and any court orders relating to your child.

You can also renew their passport by post, in the same way you would for an adult, which costs £69.

You can pay by either a debit or credit card – fill in the form in the application pack, or send a cheque made payable to ‘HM Passport Office’

You’ll need two new and identical printed photos of yourself.

You can get emergency travel documents but it will cost you (Pictre: UkNewsinPictures)

What makes a passport invalid?

Other than passport issue and expiry date problems, there are other ways the document might be rendered invalid, for example if there is physical damage to it.

Vicky Pattinson was recently turned away at the airport when her passport was chewed by her dog, and there are ways a passport might be deemed invalid.

This can be if:

• Details are indecipherable
• The laminate has lifted enough to allow the possibility of photo substitution
• There’s discolouration of the bio-data page
• There’s chemical or ink spillage on any page
• There are missing or detached pages
• The chip or antenna shows through the end paper on the back cover for the new style e-passports
• The chip has been identified as damaged after investigation

If your passport is damaged and you have an overseas trip booked that’s shorter than a month away, you’ll need to use the Fast Track service. This involves attending an appointment at a Passport Office (you can choose between Belfast, Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport or Peterborough), where you’ll need to hand in a completed application form, two valid passport photos, and any supporting documents.

You’re guaranteed to receive your new passport in seven days but these appointments get booked up quickly – especially in peak season – so book one as soon as possible.

What happens if my passport is invalid?

The Consular Section at the British High Commission regularly receives panic calls from Britons at the airport – someone in the family was not allowed to board the flight because their passport expires in less than six months.

The British High Commission can help by processing an Emergency Travel Document (ETD). This costs £100 and is usually issued within 24 hours. Visas for ETDs may be required; some countries that allow visa-free entry on a regular passport will require a visa for an ETD.

As you can see, these scenarios result in added costs and unexpected delays, so check your passports ASAP.

What other rules are coming into effect for UK travellers?

British travellers to European and Schengen countries are also no longer ablefor stay at length.

Now you can only stay for a maximum of 90 days within a six-month period, whereas before you could have stayed longer.

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