Passport help

[confusedlots]

I’m getting myself confused with the 10 year validity rule for passports. My passport was issued 4th February 2016 and expires 4th June 2026. Can I travel to the EU in December, returning before 31st December 2025?

I understand that I need to have 3 months validity on my passport beyond my travel dates I.e. it needs to be valid up until the end of March 2026. But because it was issued in Feb 2016 and is only valid for 10 years (until February 2026), does that mean that I don’t have the required 3 month validity after my travel dates for a trip in December?

Help!

No, it's valid until (date it was issued) February 2026. So three months before that is November.

Issued Feb but expires June? You sure that's correct?

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements

Date of issue less than 10 years before you arrive - ok

• "have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue)"

Again ok.

I think you are good to travel - assuming the part of the EU you want to travel to is in the Schengan zone - Ireland & cyprus are different from memory.

This is incorrect advice.

@Nickyknackered ah well, I have an EU passport, so I was just going off OP's OP.

Perhaps best not to give advice on something you aren't sure about then.

You can't travel out in a passport more than 10 years old but the expiry date is still used when calculating the date by which you should return by.

I couldn’t find anywhere that the expiry date doesn’t have to be within 10 years of the issue date - where did you find that? It’s confusing because it says that other countries don’t recognise those extra months added to the end of the passport, so if they don’t recognise them, do they not assume it expires 10 years after the date of issue?

I’m panicking and considering paying for a fast turnaround renewal in case of any issues.

It's on the link I put at the top of the message - all be it I chose France.

@Cantseetreesforthewood yes I see it now. But I’m still panicking that someone won’t accept it!

I’d eliminate the stress and just get a new passport now.

Why not just renew it? The service is quick and you’re going to have to pay to renew it soon anyway, may as well get in before prices go up again!

I was refused travel to Spain this year, a my passport was issued 10 years and one month before I got to the airport.

Honestly, I’d just renew it now. Different countries have different rules. You’re going to need a new passport two months after travelling anyway, so I’d just order now. I approved a passport for a friend’s child a fortnight ago and they have the passport already. I’d just order one to eliminate any stress.

It will be within the 10 years of issue. What I’m panicking about is the 3 months validity after travelling. I don’t think I could chance it being back in 5 weeks time if I do a normal renewal but I could do a fast track one.

The renewal process has improved greatly in the last few years. It’s much more efficient. Think mine took 10 days.

At this time of year a normal renewal will take a couple of weeks, it is only in peak travel season that you might need the priority service.

I took mine to Max Spielmann on a Monday and had it delivered back by the Friday. Was very quick. Maybe do something like that. They sent it off for me. It was not too dear and saved stress as I had a busy week.

Just renew it. They will add the extra months on

Mine had an expiry of November 2025 but issue date of February 2015 and was recommended I get a new one before going to China in march this year

OP according to the passport checker on the TUI website , using outbound date of 22.12.25 and return date of 30.12.25, you’re ok.

https://www.tui.co.uk/passport-checker

They won't. The new passport will be valid for 10 years after issue.