Brexit warning: Britons risk being turned away from EU airports if their passport has this

New rules will come into place next year and the UK government issued fresh guidance to Britons today.

The government announced online on Thursday: “Until 1 January 2021, you can continue to travel to Europe with your UK passport until it expires.

“New rules will apply for travel to Europe from 1 January 2021.

“You’ll need to have at least six months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).

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However, the EU’s definition of ‘six months left’ may differ from the date in the passport – and if passengers do not have enough time left until their passport’s expiry date then they risk being turned away from EU airports.

The government points out: “If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

“Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the six months needed.

“You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.”

With the UK now no longer part of the EU, member countries will not recognise those extra nine months on such documents, despite the UK passport’s expiry date remaining valid for the UK and other non-EU countries around the world.

Consequently, Britons heading to the EU in 2021 with passports issued before September 2018 need to double-check they have sufficient validity to avoid being turned away by airlines.

The issue will not apply to those who had passports issued after this date as the government subsequently ended the practice of nine month’s grace. However, they will still need to make sure they have at least six months left on their passport.