What you need to know about the recent changes to passport and travel document requirements?

As a British citizen preparing to travel abroad, it’s important to stay on top of evolving entry requirements. From 12 October 2025, new rules affecting travel into the Schengen‑area of the European Union (and other related states) came into effect. This blog summarises what you need to check for your passport and border checks, how the changes impact you, and what you should do before you pack.

1. Passport validity and general rules for UK travellers

Before even considering the changes active in October 2025, it’s worth reminding yourself of the baseline rules for a UK passport when travelling abroad.

• Your passport must be valid (i.e., not expired) for your period of travel. Advice from the charity Which? highlights that for travel to many EU/Schengen countries a UK passport must have at least three months validity after your date of planned departure from that area, and should have been issued within the last 10 years.
• Specifically, for travel to the Schengen area, the UK government guidance reminds travellers to check that their passport is valid for the dates you are travelling.
• Another key rule: if your UK passport was issued more than 10 years before your travel date, many EU/Schengen states may refuse boarding or entry under their rules for “third‑country nationals”.
• The rule about “passport issued less than 10 years before travel” arises because of how the EU treats UK citizens post‑Brexit; the UK is now classed as a non‑EU country for Schengen‑area entry.

Putting this into practice: if you hold a British passport issued, say, in January 2013, and you plan to travel in November 2025, that passport will have been issued more than 10 years previously (2013 to 2025 = 12 years) and may therefore not be accepted by some Schengen border authorities. It’s wise to renew early. The same applies if your passport is due to expire soon.

2. Key change from12 October 2025: the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES)

A major change that UK travellers need to prepare for is the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES) by the European Union; this comes into effect on 12 October 2025.

What does this mean in practical terms?

• The EES is a digital border management system that replaces the traditional passport‑stamp regime for “third‑country nationals” (i.e., travellers from non‑EU/Schengen countries, including British citizens) when entering and leaving Schengen states.
• From the launch date, you may be required upon your first entry (and exit) into a participating Schengen country to have your facial image taken and provide fingerprint data via self‑service kiosks or border‑control booths. Children under 12 will in most cases be exempt from fingerprinting, though they still may have a photo taken.
• The rollout is phased: the system begins from 12 October 2025, with full implementation (all border points) by approximately 10 April 2026.
• For UK travellers, this means that when you arrive at a Schengen‑area border after 12 October, you should allow for extra time at passport control because of the biometric registration. The UK government site notes that queues at borders “may be longer when these changes begin”.
• Although the EES itself doesn’t require you to apply in advance (you don’t need to fill in a form before travel), you do need to travel with a valid passport that meets the standard validity and issue‑date rules and carry onward/return tickets, proof of accommodation, etc., as you may be asked at the border.

What the EES does not mean: You still do not necessarily need a visa for short stays (for most UK tourists/business travellers) as long as the 90‑day in 180‑day rule is respected. The EES is about registering entry/exit, not replacing visa rules entirely.

Key advice: If you plan to travel after October 2025 to a Schengen country (e.g., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, etc.), make sure:

• your passport was issued within the last 10 years;
• your passport has sufficient validity (at least 3 months beyond your exit date, though check the specific country);
• allow extra time at border controls;
• be ready for biometric checks (photo + fingerprint) at your first entry point.

3. Staying within short‑stay limits and visa‑free travel

For UK citizens travelling for tourism or business to the Schengen area, another key requirement is the 90‑day rule:

• You may stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180 day period as a non‑EU national (unless you obtain a longer‑stay visa/permit).
• The UK government website emphasises that when you count your days you must look back 180 days from your intended date of exit, count past stays, and ensure you don’t exceed 90 days.
• After the EES launch, border authorities will have easier digital means to check your entries/exits, increasing the likelihood you’ll be asked for proof of where you are staying, your return/outbound ticket, and that you have not exceeded the 90‑day limit.

Therefore, your passport status matters—but so does your travel pattern. If you travel frequently to Europe, keep a log of your entries/exits so you don’t inadvertently breach the 90/180 rule.

4. What UK citizens should do now

Here’s a practical checklist for British travellers:

• Check your passport issue date & expiry: If your passport was issued more than 10 years before your travel date, renew it now. If it expires less than, say, 3 months after your return date (especially for EU/Schengen travel) then renew.
• Apply early for renewal: Passport renewal demand spikes during holiday seasons; renewing ahead reduces risk of travel disruption.
• For trips to the Schengen area after 12 October 2025: Allow extra time at the border for biometric registration. At your first entry you may be fingerprinted and photographed.
• Check onward/return travel and accommodation details: Be ready to show proof of where you’re staying, your return ticket, and that you haven’t exceeded the 90‑day rule.
• Keep track of your travel days in the Schengen area: If you’ve previously spent significant time there, ensure your new trip won’t push you over 90‑days in a 180‑day window.
• Stay updated: These rules may evolve further (for example, the upcoming European Travel Information and Authorisation System, ETIAS, will affect UK travellers in future years) so check official guidance before each trip.

5. Final take‑aways

For UK citizens travelling from October 2025 onwards to the Schengen/associated area, the passport and travel‑document landscape will experience notable change. The core validity rules remain broadly the same (valid passport, issued within last 10 years, sufficient remaining validity), but the introduction of the EU Entry/Exit System means that biometric checks become standard and border control procedures will tighten.

If you travel regularly, prepare in advance. Renew your passport if necessary, factor in extra border time, carry proof of onward travel and stay, and horizon‑scan for further changes (such as ETIAS) that may affect future trips. By taking these steps, you’ll reduce the risk of disruption and travel with greater confidence.

By Stephen Forster at 21 Nov 2025