Passport rules for Europe from the UK: the two checks

To travel from the UK to most of Europe on a British passport, two dates on the photo page must pass. The passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive, and it must have at least 3 months left after the day you plan to leave. These are gov.uk's rules for the Schengen area, which covers the countries on most Spice Escapes European holidays, and most of our European holiday pages print them under passport validity.

This page explains the two checks, how to make them in two minutes, what the Entry/Exit System asks of you at the border, and where ETIAS fits. It is a guide to what gov.uk and our holiday pages say, so check the page for your own destination before you book.

The two checks, in gov.uk's words

The entry requirements page for France on gov.uk gives the rule in two lines. Your passport must:

• "have a 'date of issue' less than 10 years before the date you arrive"
• "have an 'expiry date' at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area"

The Schengen area includes Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Malta, Italy, France and Iceland, so it covers holidays such as Berlin Bound3 nights · from £549, Kraków Discovery4 nights · from £589, A Taste of Lisbon3 nights · from £639 and Ancient Athens4 nights · from £579. It also lets you travel without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, which is far more than any of our holidays needs.

How to check your passport in two minutes

• Find the photo page. Both dates are printed on it, labelled date of issue and date of expiry.
• Check the issue date first. Count back 10 years from the day you arrive. If the passport was issued less than 10 years before that day, it passes the first test.
• Then the expiry date. Add 3 months to the day you plan to leave, and the expiry date has to be that day or later.
• Look at both even if the passport has years left. The two tests are separate, and a passport can look fine on its expiry date alone and fail on its issue date.

The issue date matters most for an older passport that was renewed early. Extra months were once added to the expiry date of a renewed passport, so the expiry date can sit more than 10 years after the day it was issued. For Europe it is the issue date that counts, and our holiday pages warn that if your passport was issued some years ago, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

If either date fails, renew the passport before you book. gov.uk says you will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document, and asks you to check with your travel provider that your passport meets the requirements. If you are close to the line, renew early. A few of our holiday pages, such as the Paris boat hotel, ask for more: at least 6 months left from the start of the holiday. If the page for your trip asks for more, follow the page.

What changes at the border: the Entry/Exit System

The Entry/Exit System, or EES, is the EU's digital border check, and gov.uk's guidance says it is now in operation. At a border you may be asked to give your fingerprints and have your photo taken at a dedicated booth. Your digital EES record is valid for 3 years. gov.uk says there is no cost for EES registration, and that it is replacing the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive.

If you travel by Eurostar, Eurotunnel or through the Port of Dover, gov.uk says any EES checks are completed at the border before you leave the UK. For the airport routes our own holiday pages say that fingerprints and a facial image may be collected, and point to the EU's own EES page for the details. It is sensible to allow a little more time at the border than you used to.

ETIAS is a separate, later thing

ETIAS is not the same as EES. It is a travel authorisation that UK citizens will eventually need to enter the European countries that require it for short stays, and it is linked to your passport. Our holiday pages say there is no confirmed start date and that we will let everyone know when it is required and how to apply, and gov.uk's guidance on EES and ETIAS says the same about the EU announcing the date. gov.uk also warns that any website selling ETIAS before the EU has opened it is doing so fraudulently, so do not pay one.

The other two things to carry

A UK Global Health Insurance Card, or a still-valid EHIC, gives you the right to state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU. It is not a replacement for travel insurance, and our holiday pages ask you to have adequate personal travel insurance in place before you travel.

Where to read more

New to booking a group holiday? Our guide for first-time solo travellers covers the rest, solo holidays for the over 50s shows what is on sale, and single supplements explains the cost of a room of your own. For somewhere to begin, try holidays in the Czech Republic or the short breaks page.

Questions people ask

How long must my passport be valid for Europe?

It must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive, and have at least 3 months left after the day you plan to leave. A few of our holiday pages ask for 6 months, so follow the page for your trip. Check both dates on the photo page.

Can I travel on a passport that expires in less than three months?

Not for most of Europe. The expiry date has to be at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. If yours is closer than that, renew it before you book.

Why does the issue date matter if my passport has not expired?

The rule has two separate tests. A passport can pass on its expiry date and still fail on its issue date, particularly an older one that was renewed early with extra months added.

Do I need a visa for a holiday in Europe?

gov.uk says you can travel without a visa to the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. A holiday of a few days is well inside that.

Do I need ETIAS yet?

Our holiday pages say there is no confirmed start date, so check gov.uk before you travel. We will tell everyone who has booked when it is required and how to apply.

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For a question about your trip before you book, ask Sally Wiltshire, the Spice host, through our contact page, or ask Rosie, the chat on every holiday page.