Some Travellers Denied EU Entry Due To Relatively Unknown Passport Rule

The 10-year passport rule continues to catch some British travellers out.

Some Travellers Denied EU Entry Due To Relatively Unknown Passport Rule
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Since Brexit, new passport expiry rules have come into effect for British citizens traveling to the EU. Many people are still unaware of this rule, which continues to have severe consequences. This rule has been dubbed the "EU 10-year passport rule." If you're planning a trip to Disneyland Paris in the near future, it's crucial to check the passports of yourself and your party to ensure you won't be denied entry.

The 10-Year Passport Rule


If your UK passport was issued after 2018, it's valid for exactly 10 years, so you won't encounter any issues. However, passports issued before 2018 may be valid for up to 10 years and nine months. This is because the UK passport office added up to nine additional months from your previous passport to your new one. Post-Brexit, EU countries no longer accept the extra months beyond the 10-year period. Therefore, you should ignore your passport's expiry date and simply add 10 years to your issue date, which represents the date you can enter the EU until. Additionally, ensure that your passport remains valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave the EU.

This means your travel document must have been issued within the previous 10 years the day you enter the EU on condition that it is valid until the end of your stay plus an additional 3 months.

For example, if your passport has an issue date of May 1st, 2015, and an expiry date of December 1st, 2025, you must disregard the expiry date. You'll only be permitted to enter the EU as long as you leave again by February 1st, 2025 (9 years and 9 months from the May 1st 2015 issue date as your passport have at least three months of validity remaining when you return to the UK).

Only The EU, Not the USA


This not does apply to the USA if you're planning a Walt Disney World trip. This is only for travel into the EU, which includes France and Disneyland Paris.

You Will Be Denied Without Refund


If on the day of your trip you try to travel past the 10-year period from your issue date, you will be denied boarding or entry if you've driven, and you will not be refunded you nor will you be able to claim on any travel insurance as it will be deemed your fault.

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Ash Hales
Ash
About The Author
Ash Hales is a British Disney Parks writer and the voice behind Mickey From The UK. Based in the South of England, he's been visiting Disney Parks for over three decades and launched Mickey From The UK in 2017 to provide practical, straight-talking advice for British guests - without the American bias.

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