It’s no surprise that there’s been a few changes to foreign travel for Brits after Brexit. Here are the new UK passport rules for travel in Europe and the changes that are due to take place next year.
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Passport stamps | Passport validity | New UK passport rules in 2022 | FAQs | Book with Zest
Passport stamps
If you’re a Brit travelling within the European Schengen area, don’t forget to stamp your passport when entering or leaving a country! The New UK passport rules state anyone heading inside the Schengen area will require stamps for arrival and exit.
Due to the UK leaving the EU earlier this year, British travellers can only travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period without a need for a visa. Foreign travel advice is now recommending you check your passport so border guards can tell if you’re complying with the 90-day visa free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. Failure to provide evidence of arrival and exit could cause issues at border control.
Passport validity
Foreign Travel advises that when travelling to a Schengen country, you have at least 6 months left on your passport. Also, it is a requirement in most European countries to have 3 months or more left on the passport the day AFTER you leave the country.
Furthermore, your passport must also be less than 10 years old on the day after you leave. This mainly applies for people who renewed an old passport before the previous one expired. If either of these requirements are met, you will be denied entry to a Schengen country and possibly banned from re-entering.
If you’re still confused about whether your passport is valid, foreign travel advice provides an online passport checker for travel in Europe.
New UK passport rules in 2022
There are more changes set to take place in 2022. According to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, Brits travelling to any European Schengen countries will need to apply for a waiver costing €7 (around £6). This will come into place in late 2022.
FAQs
What is Europe’s Schengen zone?
- The Schengen area is a European zone with 26 countries within its confinements. This area allows for EU passport-free travel across borders. Mostly EU countries make up the Schengen zone.
What is a Schengen visa?
- A Schengen visa is a short stay visa that allows foreign visitors to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180 day period. Any of the 26 countries can be travelled to provide the visa is still in date and your passport has been routinely stamped. Use the Schengen Visa Calculator to find out if you’re complying with the rules.
- British citizens DO NOT currently need to apply for a Schengen visa.
Which countries make up the Schengen area?
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland.
Book with Zest
For more information on how Brexit will affect your holiday plans, we suggest you read up on our Brexit and Travel blogs. Here we provide information on the Global Health Insurance Card, whether you need an IDP to drive in the EU, and updates on speeding fines in Europe.
Make sure to remember to stamp your passport in Europe when renting your car with Zest!
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