A WARNING has been issued any Brits who have burgundy passports if they are thinking of travelling abroad this year.
There's a higher chance the old colour passport – so anybody still with one must make well in advance.
And even if you have a new passport, it's crucial you make to avoid disappointment at the gate.
The classic burgundy colour is no longer issued after the government switched to navy blue in March 2020.
That means burgundy passports are all at least five years old – which creates a higher risk they will for visiting certain countries.
Afterin 2016,most EU countries now insist British passports must not be beyond a certain age.
The two most important details to check are the issue date and the expiry date.
If travelling to the EU, it's.
It must also be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to return home.
Brits heading on their hols continue to be caught out by the rules – as research found that less than 50 percent of people are aware of the 10-year cut-off.
Emergency passports can cost up to £207 – so it is vital to have things in order with plenty of time to go.
There is another reason why burgundy passports are more likely to break the 10-year rule.
Before 2018, any time left on your passport was added to your new passport's validity.
So, while there may still be plenty of time left before the expiry date, it is more likely to be over 10 years old and invalid for EU travel.
If your passport needs to be renewed, you can apply for a new one either by post or online.
Plenty of Brits have been caught out, with one story emailed to consumer website Saving Expert.
Abigail was due to fly tofor her best friend's hen do with seven months left on her passport.
She said: “Just as I'm about to get on the plane maybe 50m away, the crew looked at my passport and said I was unable to fly due to an expired passport.
“I had NO IDEA about theand wasn't allowed to fly to Lisbon.”
Non-EU countries also have a range of rules about the time that must be left on your passport.
For countries such as,, or theUS, themust be valid for the whole duration of your stay.
Other countries such as require your passport be valid for at least six months from the day you enter.
Alvaro Iturmendi, Confused.com travel expert said: “Booking your can be very exciting, and a welcome distraction to the beginning of the year blues.
“But no matter how far in advance you’re planning, it’s never too early to check your passport’s validity, so you don’t get caught out last minute.
“Our research found that less than half (43 per cent) of knew that if you're heading to the EU, your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before their departure date.
“And if your passport doesn't meet this regulation, it could mean you're denied entry into the country, or may not even be allowed on the flight in the first place.
“Either way, it's likely to lead to a lot of disruption to your holiday plans.
