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Countries where Brits will be affected as red passport holders issued warning before going on holiday this year

Countries where Brits will be affected as red passport holders issued warning before going on holiday this year

Red/burgundy UK passport holders have been told to check an important detail

This is the final boarding call for red/burgundy passport holders to take their seats.

Most of us have plenty of annual leave to use up before the end of the year and are itching to get away before the Christmas weather kicks in.

For blue passport holders, go ahead and book your holiday as usual.

However, for those still holding onto their reddish-looking passports, it means your travel documents are pre-2019.

If you've got one of these, you're all good for now. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
If you've got one of these, you're all good for now. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

And if you turn up to the airport with one of those, you're at risk of being turned away.

So, the way it used to work is that British passport holders could carry nine months over from their old passports to a new one.

This meant that the passport was valid for more than the 10 years you usually get before it expires.

However, thanks to Brexit, EU/Schengen Zone countries have changed their rules.

According to VisaGuide.World, there happens to be 70 countries that have to the six-month passport renewal rule and it means your passport must be valid for more than six months upon entering the country.

Meanwhile, 41 other countries have implemented a three-month passport validity rule - the same principle applies but with three months.

Red passport could mean dead passport. (Huw Fairclough/Getty Images)
Red passport could mean dead passport. (Huw Fairclough/Getty Images)

Equally, your red passport must have been issued within the last decade.

If it was issued before August 2014 you can't enter the EU at all.

Travel expert Simon Calder told BBC Breakfast: "I'm afraid all you can do at this stage is try and get an emergency appointment and see if you can get a passport turned around.

"But if you're travelling later, maybe in the May bank holidays or the summer holidays then you've got time on your side.

"It's only the EU that cares about the issue date, if you're going to America, Australia, Tunisia they say your passport's valid up to and including the expiry date."

Countries with six-month passport rule

  • Afghanistan
  • Algeria
  • Anguilla
  • Bahrain
  • Bhutan
  • Botswana
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Brunei
  • Canada*
  • Cambodia
  • Cameroon
  • Cayman Islands
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad, Comoros
  • Cote D'Ivoire
  • Curacao
  • Ecuador
  • Egypt
  • El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Fiji
  • Gabon
  • Guinea Bissau
  • Guyana
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Kiribati
  • Laos
  • Madagascar
  • Malaysia
  • Marshall Islands
  • Micronesia
  • Myanmar
  • Namibia
  • Nicaragua
  • Nigeria
  • Oman
  • Palau
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Qatar
  • Rwanda
  • Saint Lucia
  • Samoa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • Somalia
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sudan
  • Suriname
  • Taiwan
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Timor-Leste
  • Tokelau
  • Tonga
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Vanuatu
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam
  • Yemen
  • Zimbabwe

Countries with three-month passport rule

  • Albania
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Czechia
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Honduras
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Kuwait
  • Latvia
  • Lebanon
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Nauru
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Panama
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Senegal
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: UK News, Holiday, Travel