Travellers are being urged to double-check their passport details before heading overseas, as new research from Saga Travel Insurance uncovers widespread confusion surrounding entry requirements, expiry regulations and post-Brexit travel rules. The insurance provider polled 500 people across the UK and discovered that Britons could be leaving themselves open to avoidable disruption when travelling abroad due to straightforward oversights.
The survey revealed that 16% of respondents were unaware of when their passports expire, 10% had less than one year remaining on their passports, and 8% were currently in possession of expired passports. Furthermore, one in 14 (7%) holidaymakers had been refused entry to a country because they did not have sufficient time left on their passport before its expiry date.
Michelle Cooper, director of Travel Insurance at Saga, has outlined the key passport rules that travellers should be mindful of ahead of any trip. She also detailed plans for a new fee that UK residents will shortly be required to pay when travelling to Europe.
Michelle said: "Nobody should have their holidays ruined because of a simple passport error. A few quick checks can help people avoid unnecessary stress, unexpected costs and disruption at the airport."
Half (50%) of holidaymakers still lack confidence in their understanding of the visa and travel requirements for visiting Europe following Brexit.
Michelle said: "If you're travelling to Europe for an extended period, you may now be required to apply for a new visa type. Travellers can spend up to 90 days in the Schengen area within any rolling 180‐day period, but it's not as simple as it sounds.
"The 180 days are counted backwards from each day you're in the EU or a Schengen country, so every trip adds up. That means even frequent short breaks can push you over the limit without realising.
"If you go beyond 90 days, you could face fines or even a ban from re-entering. Anyone planning to stay longer will need to apply for the new Schengen Visa."
The Schengen area comprises 29 European nations where travellers can cross borders freely without routine passport checks, encompassing much-loved holiday hotspots including France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal.
Confusion surrounding the '10-year passport rule' remains the most widely debated passport issue online, according to recent analysis from Saga Travel Insurance, with Reddit discussions on the matter amassing 35,417 upvotes.
Michelle explained: "EU and Schengen countries require passports to be less than 10 years old on the day of entry. While all new passports last exactly ten years, passports issued before 2018 remain valid for 10 years and nine months. If you have an older passport, make sure you check both the issue date and expiry date before travelling to avoid problems at the border."
From late 2026, British holidaymakers heading to most European destinations will be required to obtain approval through the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) prior to departure. An exact date for it starting has not yet been announced.
The new scheme mirrors the UK's own Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system and will affect visa-exempt visitors travelling to 30 European nations for short trips of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Travellers will be charged a fee of 20 Euros — roughly £17.
Michelle said: "Travellers may not realise that visiting Europe will soon involve an additional pre-travel authorisation step. From late 2026, British holidaymakers will need to apply for ETIAS approval before travelling to many popular European destinations.
"The authorisation will be linked directly to your passport, meaning travellers could be denied boarding if their ETIAS details don't match their travel document or if the authorisation has expired. Most ETIAS applications are expected to be processed within minutes, but it could take longer if additional checks are required. Holidaymakers should apply well in advance of departure to avoid last-minute disruptions.
"Similar systems already exist elsewhere. For example, UK travellers visiting the United States must apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) before departure. These systems are becoming more common globally, so it's important to check requirements for each destination well ahead of travel.
"As with passport validity rules, people are responsible for making sure they have the correct travel authorisation before they leave the country. If someone is unable to travel because they failed to obtain valid ETIAS or ESTA approval, travel insurance is unlikely to cover costs associated with denied boarding or cancelled trips."
