Passports: what you need to know in 2026
Avoid getting turned back at border control with our guide to passports in 2026, with an explanation of the troublesome 10-year rule and the changes for dual citizens.
Avoid getting turned back at border control with our guide to passports in 2026, with an explanation of the troublesome 10-year rule and the changes for dual citizens.
Thousands of people have been caught out by recent passport changes – mainly, the 10-year rule and the new requirements for dual citizens.
In this post-Brexit era, it can be difficult to keep up with the changing passport regulations. According to a 2025 YouGov survey, about 40% of people were unaware of important travel rules. As a result, up to 9.6 million travellers could be stopped from hopping on a flight or boarding a cruise because their passport is actually invalid.
If you haven’t travelled for a while, then it’s even more essential that you read our advice before your next holiday. You will need to get used to the non-EU queue and extra checks, and make sure your passport is up to date.
Here we break down everything you need to know about our British passports in 2026, so you don’t get caught out at passport control.
Applying for a passport is the same as it’s been for a few years.
The Home Office told Saga Magazine: “If we do not need any further information after receiving the application, customers can expect their passport within three weeks.”
That’s three weeks from when documents are received, not when you send them off. During peak times, such as public or school holidays, it could take up to 10 weeks.
The recent changes to passports concern their validity when you travel, their strength when getting a visa and the time you’ll spend at border controls. There are also new rules this year for British nationals with dual citizenship.
As of last year, the cost of a straightforward online passport application has jumped by £6 to £94.50.
This takes the cumulative rise in just two years to 25%. It is now among the top four most expensive passports in Europe.
Passport fees are reviewed every year. Find out more about passport fees at gov.uk.
After Brexit, citizens in the UK became “third-country nationals”. This means there are two new conditions for UK travellers to the EU and wider Schengen Area (a group of European countries that don’t have border controls between them).
This came into force on 1 January 2021 when the UK left the EU and has been causing travellers issues ever since.
If your passport was issued after 2018, it’s valid for exactly ten years and you will be fine. If your passport was issued before September 2018, the Passport Office may have added the previous passport’s leftover months on it, and it could be valid for up to ten years and nine months. This was okay when we were part of the EU. It is not okay now.
In this case, your passport hasn’t officially expired and could be valid for travel elsewhere. However, you will not be allowed to travel in Europe as it was issued more than 10 years ago. You will need a new one.
One in five Brits hold an extended passport that could be invalid for travel in Europe over the next few years, according to Home Office figures, meaning that more than 12 million people might not be able to travel, unless they renew their passport.
You cannot claim compensation if you are turned away as it is your responsibility to make sure your passport is valid for travel. Double-check the dates on your passport before you book your holiday.
It is worth making sure that your passport is in good condition. Replace it if it has serious rips, missing pages, heavy water stains or the cover is coming apart. Make sure your personal details can be read clearly and the laminate on the photo page is not lifting.
If you’re travelling beyond the UK and wider Schengen Area, you also need to be aware of that individual country’s rules.
Each country has a different requirement for the months left until the passport’s expiry date. Check the Post Office’s guide to be sure.
Looking to get a passport in a hurry? You won’t be the only one. The Home Office told Saga Magazine: “More than 7,000 appointments for urgent services are made available across the seven passport offices in the UK each week.”
If you need a passport quickly, you must book an appointment online to go to a passport office. The soonest appointment may not be at your nearest passport office, so be prepared to travel anywhere in the country to get one.
You can find the current guide to times and prices for fast-track passports here and for new passports on a standard service here.
Passport validity can be problematic for children's passports as they only last five years and that date can come round very quickly.
Be vigilant if you’re travelling with the grandchildren as getting a fast-track appointment for a child’s passport can take up to a week.
Make sure you're on the official HM Passport Office site when you apply. There are fake sites set up to look like the official one, but will charge you extra, or worse still defraud you.
If you need help with applying for your passport, use the Post Office's Check & Send service. For £16 they will ensure you've included the correct documents, your photo is valid, all forms are filled in correctly and they send it by special delivery.
The latest passports are blue and biometric, making it easier to go through the gates at border control. However, if you’re travelling with a child under 12, you won’t be able to do this. If the child is between 12 and 18, they might be able to use eGates, depending on the country.
The EU emblem has gone and the embedded chip contains more information than ever. The design also features advanced anti-forgery elements, such as holograms, microprinting, and potentially more sophisticated RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chips to prevent counterfeiting and identity theft. The new passports feature King Charles’ coat of arms on the cover.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) began a phased roll-out last autumn, meaning passports no longer need to be manually stamped. There will be a digital record instead. Biometric data (fingerprints, face scans) may be collected at Schengen borders for UK travellers. The roll-out is expected to be completed by 10 April 2026.
As of early 2026, you do not need a visa to travel to the EU. However, you will need a visa-waiver to visit most EU countries towards the end of the year.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS) means that UK passport-holders have to pay a fee of €20 (£18) for an electronic travel authorisation to get on the database. This is valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. You can find out more on the ETIAS website.
It’s like the ESTA for the US and will usually be issued in minutes. There will be a six-month grace period when it finally comes in, but be prepared for delays at the airport when it is introduced.
If you haven’t travelled for a while, you might be surprised to be ushered into the non-EU queue when you reach your destination and have to wait longer.
Since its phased roll-out in October 2025, the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) has led to delays at several European airports. The extra biometric checks have slowed border processing, with wait times rising by up to 70% in some locations, according to Airports Council International.
Technical problems have also been reported in Spain, while Portugal halted EES operations at Lisbon Airport temporarily after long queues.
The European Commission has said it will give member states “certain flexibilities” to help manage bottlenecks during the busiest travel periods until September. Even so, officials at France’s two biggest airports are pushing for the roll-out to be paused altogether over the summer.
As of 25 February 2026, if you’re a British citizen with dual nationality, you can no longer use a foreign passport alone to enter the UK.
To travel to the UK, you must show a valid British or Irish passport, or a passport from another country that has a certificate of entitlement, digital confirmation that you have the right of abode in the UK, before getting on a plane, ferry or train to the UK. Buying a certificate costs £589 and could take weeks.
Some airlines may accept an expired British passport with a valid second passport issued since 1989, as long as all the biographical details match, but this is at their discretion. If you don’t have a valid British passport, airlines may refuse to let you on the plane.
If you lose your passport abroad, don’t panic. First, cancel it straight away through the official gov.uk “report a lost or stolen passport” service to stop anyone else using it.
Then, decide how urgently you need to travel: if you’re in a rush to get home or on to your next stop, you can apply online for an Emergency Travel Document, a short-term passport-style travel document issued by a British embassy, consulate or high commission, which should be ready in a couple of days.
If you’re not in a rush, you can apply for a full replacement passport from overseas, but expect the standard process to take a few weeks.
It can be difficult to keep up with the latest travel rules, especially with many travellers still carrying the travel anxiety of COVID times, but don’t let this stop you exploring.
Know the rules, check your dates and use that knowledge to relax into your holiday.
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