We knew nothing about the UK passport “10-year rule” until earlier in the week, when our friend messaged us in a panic. Preparing to check her daughter into a flight, she realised her passport was no longer valid, having been issued over 10 years ago. The next day, we found the same story all over the news, with hundreds of people being caught out thanks to the new(ish) Brexit regulations.
So, what exactly is the “10-year rule”, does it only apply to EU countries and what can people do if they can’t travel on their passport this summer?
After a lot of research, here’s a quick summary of everything you need to know about the UK passport “10-year rule”.
The “10-year rule” and Travelling to the EU
Before Brexit, Brits could travel to the EU with nine months left on an old passport (i.e. they could travel on their current passport for up to 9 months past the 10 year expiry date). Since Brexit, however, Brits no longer have this privilege and new rules apply.
These are:
- Your passport must be less than 10 years old before the date you enter an EU country.
- You must have at least three months left on the passport when you depart the EU country at the end of your holiday.
The above essentially refers to the issue and expiry date of your passport, which can be found on the photo ID section of your passport.
The above not only applies to EU countries, but also those in the wider Schengen area, including Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.
Can I Claim on Insurance if I’m Denied Entry to a EU Country Because of the “10-Year Rule”?
Unfortunately, not.
Although this is a fairly new regulation since Brexit, the 10-year rule is not a sudden change, and it is up to the traveller to ensure that their passport complies with the regulations issued by the country they’re visiting.
Does the “10-year rule” Apply to other Countries Outside of the EU?
The UK passport 10-year rule does not apply to countries outside of the EU, but entry requirements will vary dependent on country.
Use the Foreign Travel Advice website to find out more about a country’s specific entry requirements.
When Should I Renew My UK Passport?
You should renew your UK passport when:
- Your passport has expired
- Your passport is more than 10 years old (if travelling to countries with the 10-year rule)
- Your passport does not have enough time left on it: this will vary from country to country, but many will require a certain amount of time left on the passport when arriving or departing the country. For EU countries, this is three months from departure/
You can check entry requirements for individual countries using the Foreign Travel Advice website.
How Long Does it take to Renew a UK passport?
So, if you’ve realised your passport is more than 10 years old and you need to renew ahead of your EU summer holiday, how long do you need?
This really depends on the way in which you choose to renew your passport and the time of year you do it.
- Online/by paper: you can renew easily enough online through HM Passport Office. This costs £82.50 or £93 to complete a paper application. This process usually takes 2-3 weeks, but this is also dependent on demand (i.e. a surge in people applying ahead of the summer holidays may delay things).
- Face-to-face appointment: you can book an in-person appointment at your nearest Passport Office. Once this is done, you should receive your passport within a week.
- Premium Service: if you really need a passport – and quickly – then you can opt to pay for a premium service, which is a same day turnaround period. From April 2024, this premium service will cost you £207.50.
Increase in Passport Costs – April 2024
Please note – passport charges are set to increase by April 11th 2024. In fact, passport fees will increase by a whopping 7%. An adult’s passport will cost £88.50 and the cost of a children’s passport will increase to £57.50 (if you apply online).
Renewing your passport, or getting a passport, is cheapest if you do it online. It is much more expensive to do it via the paper route – with an adult’s passport set to cost £100 from April 2024.