Travel tools

UK Passport Validity Checker – Is Your Passport Valid for Travel?

Your passport might still be in date, but that doesn't always mean you can travel. Some countries have strict rules about when your passport was issued and how long it must remain valid. Use our free UK Passport Validity Checker to check your passport dates before your holiday.

Open passport showing travel stamps and passport pages

Check Your UK Passport Validity Online

Enter the issue and expiry dates from your passport, then your travel dates. We only use those dates — not your passport number or other personal details.

As printed in your passport. Type DD/MM/YYYY or use the calendar.

The expiry date printed in your passport.

The date you plan to enter the destination or Schengen area.

The date you plan to leave the destination or Schengen area.

Choose from the destinations this checker covers.

UK Passport 10-Year Rule and 3-Month Expiry Rule

An unexpired UK passport can still be refused for some European trips. This checker looks at the dates printed in your passport against the dates of your holiday.

  • 10-year rule: your passport should have been issued less than 10 years before the day you enter.
  • Three-month rule: it should still be valid for at least three calendar months after the day you leave.
  • It must not already have expired on your arrival or departure dates.

Before October 2018, some renewed UK passports were given extra months from an old passport. That can make the expiry date look further ahead than 10 years from the issue date. The 10-year rule still counts from the issue date printed in the passport, so a passport that is “in date” can still fail.

Confirm the latest GOV.UK foreign travel advice for your destination. Guidance last reviewed: 23 July 2026.

Which Countries Does the Passport Checker Cover?

This passport date checker covers the 30 destinations below. It does not include Ireland, and it does not mean every European country uses exactly the same rules.

View all 30 supported destinations
  • Spain
  • France
  • Portugal
  • Italy
  • Greece
  • Germany
  • Netherlands
  • Belgium
  • Switzerland
  • Austria
  • Norway
  • Iceland
  • Denmark
  • Sweden
  • Finland
  • Poland
  • Croatia
  • Malta
  • Slovenia
  • Estonia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Czechia
  • Slovakia
  • Hungary
  • Liechtenstein
  • Luxembourg
  • Monaco
  • San Marino
  • Vatican City

What this checker does not cover

This is a date check only. It does not replace official advice, and it does not cover:

  • Visas, visa waivers or residence permission
  • ETIAS or the Entry/Exit System (EES)
  • How long you are allowed to stay
  • Transit through other countries
  • Damaged, lost or stolen passports
  • Airline check-in rules

Frequently asked questions

Do I need six months left on my passport for Europe?

For the destinations in this checker, the usual expiry rule is at least three calendar months after you leave — not a blanket six-month rule. Always confirm the latest official advice for your trip.

Does my passport need to be less than ten years old?

For these destinations, it should have been issued less than 10 years before the day you enter. Extra months that were sometimes added to older UK renewals do not stretch that window.

Is the three-month rule counted from arrival or departure?

This checker counts three calendar months from the date you leave the destination or Schengen area, not from the day you arrive.

What if I visit more than one Schengen country?

Use the date you leave the Schengen area, or the last listed destination on this trip, as your departure date. The same date rules apply across the countries listed here.

Does this checker apply to Ireland?

No. Ireland is not on this tool’s destination list. Check GOV.UK travel advice for Ireland separately.

Can an airline apply stricter checks?

Yes. Airlines and border staff can apply their own checks. Meeting the dates in this tool does not guarantee boarding or entry.

Should I renew if my passport only just meets the rules?

If your dates only just scrape through, it is often safer to renew before you travel. Check current UK passport renewal waiting times and confirm requirements with your airline and GOV.UK advice.

Full disclaimer

This UK passport validity checker is a guide to passport date rules only. It does not check visas, maximum stay limits, ETIAS or EES requirements, transit rules, passport damage, lost or stolen status, airline requirements or any destination-specific exception. Entry requirements can change. Check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice and confirm requirements with your travel provider before you go.

Official GOV.UK foreign travel advice

Last reviewed: 23 July 2026