UK Passport Validity Checker for Travel to Europe
Check if your UK passport meets the current entry requirements for European countries — including Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and more.
Your passport must:
- Have been issued within 10 years before your date of entry
- Be valid for at least 3 months after the date you leave
Enter the date printed in your passport as 'Date of Issue'
Enter the date printed in your passport as 'Date of Expiry'
Enter the date your trip starts (your entry date into the country)
Enter the date you will leave the country — not the date you land back in the UK. For overnight flights, use the date you depart the destination.
Disclaimer: This tool is provided as a guide only. The entry requirements shown are correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publishing. It is the responsibility of the user to ensure all dates entered are correct and to check current passport validity requirements with official government sources before travel.
UK Passport Validity for Europe – Frequently Asked Questions
How long does my UK passport need to be valid to travel to Europe?
To enter most European countries in the Schengen Area, your UK passport must meet two rules:
- It must have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country.
- It must have at least 3 months (90 days) validity remaining after the date you leave the Schengen Area.
If your passport fails either rule, you may be refused boarding or entry.
Do I need 6 months on my passport to travel to Europe?
No. You do not need 6 months validity for travel to most European destinations.
The co
rrect rule for Schengen countries (such as Spain, France, Italy and Portugal) is:- 3 months validity after departure, and
- Passport issued within the last 10 years.
The “6-month rule” applies to some countries outside Europe, which is why this confusion is common.
What is the 10-year passport rule for Europe?
Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the date you arrive in the country.
Even i
f your passport shows a later expiry date, any extra months added from an old passport (common on passports issued before 2018) do not count for European travel rules.Example:
Passport issued 1 July 2016 → it stops being valid for EU entry on 1 July 2026, even if the printed expiry date is later.
What is the 3-month passport rule after Brexit?
Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you leave the Schengen Area.
Airlin
es and border control treat this as 90 days, not “calendar months”. If your passport expires fewer than 90 days after departure, you may not be allowed to travel.How do I calculate the 90-day passport validity rule?
- Find the date you leave Europe.
- Add 90 days.
- Your passport expiry date must be after that new date.
If it expires before that, you should renew.
Does this apply to Spain, France, Portugal, Italy and Greece?
Yes. These countries are in the Schengen Area and follow the same passport rules:
- Issued within 10 years
- 3 months (90 days) validity after departure
My passport expiry date is fine, but it was issued over 10 years ago. Can I still travel?
No. If your passport was issued more than 10 years before your arrival date, it does not meet EU entry requirements — even if the expiry date is later.
This is one of the most common reasons UK travellers are refused boarding.
What happens if my passport is valid but doesn’t meet these rules?
Airlines can refuse boarding before you even leave the UK. Border officials can also deny entry when you arrive.
Where can I check official advice for my destination?
Always confirm rules on the UK Government’s Foreign Travel Advice page for your destination:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice