Millions of Britons could be barred from entry to the EU from January unless they renew passports
- Travel rules to the EU are set to change from January regardless of trade talks
- UK passports with less than six months to run will no longer be valid in the EU
- Passports will also not be accepted if they are older than nine and a half years
Millions of Britons could be barred from entry to the EU in the New Year unless they renew passports.
Visas will not be needed for short tourist trips whether or not there is a Brexit trade deal, but fears have been raised that large numbers of people could still be caught out when the transition period ends on January 1.
UK passports are currently valid in the EU and other countries in the Schengen free movement zone right up until their expiry date.
However, from January they must have at least six months left to run.
This means that those whose passports expire in the summer of 2021 will be unable to travel in the spring.
UK passports are currently valid in the EU and other countries in the Schengen free movement zone right up until their expiry date
Britons whose passports expire in the summer of 2021 will be unable to travel in the spring
Crucially, people whose passports do not expire until the end of 2021 or even the start of 2022 might also be at risk of falling foul of the rules.
That is because UK passports can last up to 10 years and nine months rather than the standard 10 years – in recognition that renewal can happen when there is still time left on an old document.
The EU is set to ignore the extra nine months as well as the final six when it decides if a passport is valid.
The UK Passport Office issues five million every year, although it is not clear how many of those are new documents and how many renewals.
Experts have been warning that even with valid passports there could be delays at borders because Britons will have to queue with other non-EU nationals.
They could also need to show officials a valid return ticket and proof that they have enough money for their stay.
Visas will not be needed for tourist trips, buy stays will be limited to 90 days in any six-month period – potentially causing problems for holiday home owners.
The issues have been made worse as Passport Office branches have been closed for face-to-face due to coronavirus.
According to the Sunday Times, Simon Rippon, a professor of philosophy working in Austria, was told it might take eight weeks to renew the passport of one of his children.
‘There will be a lot of people sent home from their flights because they didn’t know they needed to have a passport that fits the new criteria,’ he said.
Mr Rippon complained about text message reminders being sent out by the Passport Office, with vague wording such as: ‘Passport validity rules will change from Jan 1, 2021, you may need to renew earlier than planned.’
Boris Johnson (pictured last week) is trying to strike a Brexit trade deal with the EU – but the travel rules are set to change regardless of whether he succeeds