How to check your passport is valid for travel to Europe
Since Brexit, British passports must meet two date rules for most EU countries. Check yours in two minutes so you aren't turned away at the airport.
- Time
- 5 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 6
- Checked
What you’ll need
- Your passport
- Your travel dates
Safety first
- Airlines can refuse to let you board if your passport doesn't meet the rules – and you're unlikely to get your money back.
Step by step
-
Step 1: Find the issue and expiry dates
Open your passport at the photo page and find the date of issue and date of expiry.
Next: step 2 -
Step 2: Rule 1: issued less than 10 years ago
For Schengen countries (most of the EU plus places like Norway and Switzerland), your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the date you arrive. Older passports sometimes had extra months added – those months don't count.
Next: step 3 -
Step 3: Rule 2: valid for 3 months after you leave
Your passport must have an expiry date at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
Next: step 4 -
Step 4: Check both dates for the whole trip
Both rules must be met. If either isn't, renew your passport before you travel – and allow time, as you'll post your old one off.
Next: step 5 -
Step 5: Know the 90-in-180-day rule
You can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Time in all Schengen countries counts together.
Next: step 6 -
Step 6: Be ready at the border
Under the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES), you may have your fingerprints and photo taken the first time you enter, so allow extra time. You may also be asked to show a return ticket, accommodation details and enough money for your stay. The separate ETIAS travel authorisation isn't needed yet – check GOV.UK travel advice before you book.
Tips
- Ireland and countries outside the Schengen area have their own rules – always check the GOV.UK foreign travel advice page for your destination.
Questions people ask
My passport expires in 4 months – can I go to Spain for a week?
Yes, if it was also issued less than 10 years ago, because it's still valid for at least 3 months after you leave.
Do children's passports follow the same rules?
Yes, the same date rules apply.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026. We wrote this guide in our own words, using:
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