10 year UK passport problem
Discussion
No idea if others know this but I did not.
Had to go to the UK for a funeral. I knew my passport expired 22 July so was planning to get pictures done in the UK.
As I showed my passport to board the flight home I was told my passport had expired. I said no it's 22 July. They explained that it had been issued 22 Jan 2016, and passport office had set the end date to 10 years from the end date of my previous passport. However, the EU only accept passports for 10 years from the issue date so I could not be boarded.
It was OK for me because I have Romanian residency and that allowed me to fly.
Worth checking if your passport is nearing expiry.
Had to go to the UK for a funeral. I knew my passport expired 22 July so was planning to get pictures done in the UK.
As I showed my passport to board the flight home I was told my passport had expired. I said no it's 22 July. They explained that it had been issued 22 Jan 2016, and passport office had set the end date to 10 years from the end date of my previous passport. However, the EU only accept passports for 10 years from the issue date so I could not be boarded.
It was OK for me because I have Romanian residency and that allowed me to fly.
Worth checking if your passport is nearing expiry.
That's been on media repeatedly since that change was made.
Its because the UK would add on unused time to your end date, so it was issued for 10 years after the old one ran out, not 10 years from the new issue date.
All passports issued now are for 10 years from the issue date, so this problem can no longer happen.
Its because the UK would add on unused time to your end date, so it was issued for 10 years after the old one ran out, not 10 years from the new issue date.
All passports issued now are for 10 years from the issue date, so this problem can no longer happen.
Mrr T said:
No idea if others know this but I did not.
As I showed my passport to board the flight home I was told my passport had expired. I said no it's 22 July. They explained that it had been issued 22 Jan 2016, and passport office had set the end date to 10 years from the end date of my previous passport. However, the EU only accept passports for 10 years from the issue date so I could not be boarded.
Yes indeed. Someone put a very helpful thread up on here last year (from memory) saying exactly this. I had no idea either that it ran from issue date and Mrs NDA and I had summer hols planned with a passport that would be in this zone. Thankfully, due to this person on PH posting the information, disaster was averted!As I showed my passport to board the flight home I was told my passport had expired. I said no it's 22 July. They explained that it had been issued 22 Jan 2016, and passport office had set the end date to 10 years from the end date of my previous passport. However, the EU only accept passports for 10 years from the issue date so I could not be boarded.
There were quite a few of the typical holier-than-though PH'ers saying 'everyone knows this already'. But I didn't - despite flying all over the world.
I believe (but I am not sure) that they are now aligning issue date with validity date - not sure though.
A useful post Mr T if it helps someone avoid a travel disaster.
I was nearly caught out by this myself a couple of years ago. Someone on this forum mentioned it and I checked my passport. I was going to Wroclaw and had enough time on my expiry. I was just going to get a new passport when I got home. Had I not been educated here, I'd have done the same as you.
I checked on the issue date and it would have been out of date by about a week. I had to take a day off work and drive to Durham passport office to get a fast renewal. It was pricey but the process was quick and easy. It's a bit silly in my opinion. The expiry date should be the thing of concern. I suspect it's tripped a lot of people up and not just you.
I checked on the issue date and it would have been out of date by about a week. I had to take a day off work and drive to Durham passport office to get a fast renewal. It was pricey but the process was quick and easy. It's a bit silly in my opinion. The expiry date should be the thing of concern. I suspect it's tripped a lot of people up and not just you.
toon10 said:
I was nearly caught out by this myself a couple of years ago. Someone on this forum mentioned it and I checked my passport. I was going to Wroclaw and had enough time on my expiry. I was just going to get a new passport when I got home. Had I not been educated here, I'd have done the same as you.
I checked on the issue date and it would have been out of date by about a week. I had to take a day off work and drive to Durham passport office to get a fast renewal. It was pricey but the process was quick and easy. It's a bit silly in my opinion. The expiry date should be the thing of concern. I suspect it's tripped a lot of people up and not just you.
Brexit Bonus AFAIK. It was a legit rule when in the Eu but now we are a third country, the EU stipulate max 10 years.I checked on the issue date and it would have been out of date by about a week. I had to take a day off work and drive to Durham passport office to get a fast renewal. It was pricey but the process was quick and easy. It's a bit silly in my opinion. The expiry date should be the thing of concern. I suspect it's tripped a lot of people up and not just you.
Terminator X said:
Also you can't leave the country afaik within 6m of expiry date.
TX.
This rule I was aware of. Some countries require 6 months after your expected departure date, some only 3 months. The EU require 3 months from your arrival date. I was OK on that based on 22 July expiry!!!!TX.
This thread begs the question: when should you start renewing a passport that has, say 10 years and 5 months on it? Clearly, it expires after 10 years, so expiry is earlier than when originally issued, and people get caught by this. I reckon to start renewal maybe 9 years and 6 months after the original start date. Much will depend on personal travel demands, of course.
R.
R.
Key Passport Rules for Europe (Post-Brexit)
10-Year Rule: On the day you enter the EU, your passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years.
3-Month Rule: On the day you plan to leave the EU, your passport must have at least three months validity remaining.
Old Passports: If your passport was issued before 10 September 2018, it may have "extra" months added, making it appear valid longer than it is—check the issue date.
Dual Nationality: From 25 February 2026, dual British nationals must use their British passport or a digital certificate to return to the UK.
10-Year Rule: On the day you enter the EU, your passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years.
3-Month Rule: On the day you plan to leave the EU, your passport must have at least three months validity remaining.
Old Passports: If your passport was issued before 10 September 2018, it may have "extra" months added, making it appear valid longer than it is—check the issue date.
Dual Nationality: From 25 February 2026, dual British nationals must use their British passport or a digital certificate to return to the UK.
Given all the differing rules about validity length and remaining periods across countries, I've always renewed all our family passports after 9 years.
This means there's never any concerns about validity and it gives plenty of scope for delays or problems with passport processing. It's only wasting about 6 months of usable time, which is about a fiver in terms of cost.
This means there's never any concerns about validity and it gives plenty of scope for delays or problems with passport processing. It's only wasting about 6 months of usable time, which is about a fiver in terms of cost.
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