Overview

• UK passports must meet two conditions for EU entry: be less than 10 years old on the day of travel and valid for at least three months beyond departure.
• Budget airlines, including easyJet, have repeatedly denied boarding to passengers with valid passports, citing incorrect interpretations of post-Brexit rules.
• Affected passengers are entitled to compensation of £220–£520 plus reimbursement for additional costs caused by wrongful denials.
• Social media advisories, including a viral TikTok by Rudge Daily, encourage travellers to double-check passport issue and expiry dates, especially for older burgundy passports.
• The UK Foreign Office continues to publish country-specific guidance, but enforcement inconsistencies persist, leaving travellers vulnerable to costly disruptions.