Britons with valid passports could be barred from EU from 2021
British travellers will need at least six months left on their passports to enter most EU countries from January 1 next year.
HM Passports has confirmed that although Britons will be able to enter the EU up until the expiry date of their passports for the rest of this year, during which it has negotiated a transition period with the EU, that will no longer be the case from 2021.
Under EU rules, anyone arriving from countries outside the EU must have at least six months left on their passports.
As EU countries consider passports to have expired 10 years after the date of issue, this means that British passports issued for longer periods (to take into account unused months from previous passports) might not be accepted as valid for travel to the EU after January 1, 2021.
Until September 2018, British passports could be issued for up to 10 years and nine months, so some Britons with up to 15 months left on their passports might be refused entry to the EU from next year. This will mean that Britons planning to travel to the EU might have to renew passports up to 15 months early.
The rules also apply to travel to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Andorra, Liechtenstein, San Marino and the Vatican City as well as to most EU countries.
They do not apply to the Republic of Ireland, for which passports are not legally necessary due to the Common Travel Agreement.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive