There’s an important rule Brits need to follow when travelling to Spain this summer. A travel expert has shared the important passport advice you need to know before you go
It’s important to check your passport before travelling(Image: Matt Cardy, Getty Images)
Before you set off on your holiday, there’s a fair amount of admin to tackle. It’s vital to ensure your flights and accommodation are sorted, along with any luggage arrangements, onward travel, or travel insurance.
Yet, there’s another key check that’s often overlooked before going on holiday, one that could prevent you from boarding your flight if ignored – and it’s a common stumbling block for many travellers.
Kylie, who shares thrifty travel tips on her @englandandeverywhere TikTok account, recently highlighted some crucial advice for those heading to Spain this summer, as the country enforces specific entry requirements that must be met prior to travel. With experience travelling to over 51 countries, Kylie pointed out that Spain, as an EU member, adheres to the ’10-year-rule’.
She clarified that this advice is pertinent “for travel to Mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca etc) and the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria etc)”.
Kylie noted: “The 10 year rule is what catches most travellers out as it has to be less than 10yrs old on entry. But if you renewed your passport before Oct 2018, it may have been issued for longer than 10yrs (up to 10 years 9 months).”
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The travel expert referred to the Gov.uk website, which stated you need to:
- Have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrived – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
- Have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within the 10 years of the date of issue)
As an illustration, Kylie mentioned a passport with an issue date of September 2015 and an expiry date of June 2026.
He clarified: “Even though the expiry date is in June 2026, for this particular passport you would not be able to enter Spain after September 2025.”
Always check the government’s website for the latest travel information and entry requirements before making any plans.
According to the government website, you will be “denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen”. However, you don’t need a via to travel to Spain, or other countries in the Schengen area, from the UK. As long as you travel:
- As a tourist
- To visit family or friends
- To attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
- For short-term studies or training
- And as long as you stay up to 90 days in any 18-day period