Passport 10 year rule

[LittleMonks11]

Just a heads up for those planning to travel within the EU under Schengen rules.

I knew about the three month rule (having no less than 3 months on your passport from your return date).

However, it was only reading an article in a travel supplement that I found out about the 10 year rule.

If you have more than 10 years clocked on your passport then you will not be able to enter a EU country. This happens when you renewed your passport before it ran out and you had some extra months on it. I don't think they do it anymore but did pre Brexit.

I checked my husband's passport and it went over 10 years in Feb (we travel to Croatia end of May) so a mad panic to get it renewed.

Didn't bother with the in person appointment as the nearest slot was in Belfast right before we travel. So we've sent it off and have everything crossed it comes back in time!

Thanks Brexit - another wonderful benefit.

Just in case anyone wondering about speed of passport renewal - we got it back very quickly so holiday back on!

Good that it's coming back quickly!
Yes I had to explain this one to my husband who was adamant his didn't expire til next year when in fact its Dec this year so needs a new one soon!

Good job they have diligent partners checking their passports!!

Sorry do you mean if your passport is over 10 years old? Not sure what you mean by 'clocked' being dim here doubtless

Yes @Sunnycornwallanddevon your passport effectively expires 10 years after the issue date. The expiry date printed on it is irrelevant for travel.

Well despite me checking the rules and DHs passport it appears the own check in staff don't know the rules!!!! Tried to tell us that we couldn't travel as passport was issued in 2013....I pointed out in Dec so still had 7 months left for travel. Only once speaking with the manager who initially tried telling us the same thing until I showed him the govt website along with DHs passport still being valid! Zero issues at passport control when we landed!

I feel a summer of passport control carnage awaits. 😬

So my DPs was issued May 24th 2014 so that means it needs renewing now?

oh jeez we fly to Ibiza in 13 days

No - you have until May 2024, that would be 10 years

Oh I am being really thick. I read it as within the 10 years. I’m so tired

need to wake up properly

Passports are only valid for 10 years.
Why would you have clocked more?
I don't understand.

It used to be British passports would have extra months added on if you renewed early. That changed a few years ago. The 10 year thing isn't new, its just still catching people out.

@SconesCreamJamTea my old passport expired in Oct 2014 & I was travelling September 2014 so due to not having the required 3 months validity on return date I renewed my passport in June 2014.

New passport issued with an issue date of June 2014 & expiry date of October 2024, had we still been in EU all good & I'd need a new passport in October 2024 (depending on travel plans).

Due to leaving EU & new rules, for the period of June 2024 to October 2024 my current passport is no good for travel & will need to be renewed at the very latest in June 2024 even though it doesn't 'expire' until October 2024.

Due to the 3 months validity on return date though I'll actually have to renew in March 2024 so effectively lose around 7 months of my current passport & new passport will be issued for the 10 year period with no additional months added on if renewed early like they used to.

For those worrying about passport renewal I did mine last week and paid the extra £10 at the post office counter for them to do it. They took the photo and completed most of the form on their iPad. I've already heard from the passport office that the passport has been printed and is out for delivery. My application was a very straightforward one- current passport still just in date and UK born- but I've been amazed at the speed.

My Mum did the same, the person made a mistake that took 3 months to sort!!

Call me thick but I haven’t got the foggiest idea what you mean.

How am I meant to know the issue date ? We are meant to be going to South Africa early
next year. DS passport runs out August 24 . Do I need to renew?

I don’t understand.

@Mojitosaremyfavourite the issue date is next to the expiry date on the passport

The passport has the valid from date printed on it

In the past up to 9 extra months could be added on from the old passport making it valid for up to 10y 9months. (This no longer happens). The extra months don't count for travel in the EU. Look at the valid from date and add on 10 years to get the true expiry date.

On the date of travel the passport needs to be within that 10 years you've calculated.
On the date of departure your passport needs to be valid for another 3 months (look at printed expiry date)

Just to highlight here... the 3 month thing is for Schnegan area countries. Other countries have different rules, between 0-6 months. USA only needs the passport to be valid for your trip for example.

So old passports had an extra 3 months (over the 10 yrs) and the EU are not accepting this.

This is why you need to be travelling within 3 months of your passport running out?

Is that it? Or am I missing something?

@SconesCreamJamTea no, they used to have up to 9 months added on from the old passport making them valid for up to 10y 9m.

The extra 9m are not recognised for travel in Europe so the printed expiry date is not the true expiry. Think they stopped adding extra months in 2013/2014 so some passports will still have them

The 10 year rule is apparently separate from the 3 month rule though so the 3 months doesn't need to be within the 10 years you calculated

Your passport must be:

• issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

I tell a lie, they added extra months up to September 2018 so issues will arise until 2028

The thread seems largely to be about issue/expiry dates but people also need to be aware of the 3 month rule in some countries. Sorry to make it even more confusing!

Example: I renewed my passport in September 2013. I was two months early, so the extra two months were added to the total.

The passport shows:
Issue date - September 2013
Expiry date - November 2023

In previous times, I could have used the passport in the EU until the expiry date.

Two separate things have happened. The first is the key date (in the EU) is now the issue date, not the expiry date. So my passport is no longer valid after September 2023.

The second - important, and in some countries eg Spain - is that when you land in the country, there must also be three months left before the tenth anniversary of the issue date. So, as of this month, my passport won't get me into Spain.

@Mousey23 as I posted before the 3 months don't have to be within the new 10 years you have calculated. You look at the actual expiry date when returning to the UK.