Hollie was left heartbroken as she missed out on a trip to France with her family due to strict passport rules in the EU
A British mum has gone viral after sharing her gut-wrenching experience of being denied boarding for her family holiday due to strict passport rules. Hollie, who goes by the handle Hollieandthevan on social media, is an advocate for solo female travel and often tours the UK in her converted VW crafter with her kids.
In a recent TikTok video, she recounted how her much-anticipated trip to France was cut short before it even began, thanks to stringent European travel regulations. She spoke of the “heartbreak” she felt when she was turned away because her passport, although valid until 2025, had been issued over a decade ago.
Brits planning to jet off to the EU should be clued up on the passport regulations they must adhere to. Citizens Advice points out that you’ll need to renew your passport if it’s got less than three months left at any point during your travels, or if it’s more than ten years old on the day you enter an EU country calculated from the issue date of the passport.
The official Gov.uk website further clarifies that UK citizens heading to the EU or Schengen zone won’t require a visa for brief visits of up to 90 days within a 180-day span, provided the visit is for tourism. Other permissible reasons for entry include participating in a short study course, receiving medical treatment, business-related activities for a UK employer such as attending meetings or conferences, and engaging in journalism or media work.
The Schengen area, including countries such as Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Italy among others, holds strict passport rules for travellers, reports Birmingham Live.
Unpacking her recent travel nightmare while trying to holiday in France, Hollie shared on video: “I should have been in France with my husband, children and family this weekend. Instead, I was turned away because my passport didn’t meet the ten-year rule, watching my husband and children head off without me.”
In a bid to warn other keen globetrotters about these post-Brexit rules, she added: “I had no idea about this post-Brexit travel regulation and it seems so many of you didn’t either, so I thought I would share this so that you get the heads up that I missed.”
Painting a clearer picture of what happened, she went on to explain: “UK passports must have at least three months’ validity and be less than ten years old to enter the EU. My passport was issued in April 2014 and was therefore ten years old in April 2024.
“However, because I had nine months left when I renewed my passport in 2014, they added those months on, therefore my passport doesn’t expire until January 2025. Those remaining nine months are no good to me since post-Brexit UK passport regulations, because I can’t use my passport now that it’s over ten years old.
“What is most frustrating about the process is that you must enter your expiry date when checking in, but you don’t have to enter your issue date, where this problem could have been flagged. ‘It’s your problem, you should know the rules’, is what I was told at the gate when I was denied boarding. I didn’t know the rules then, but I do now!”
The keen globetrotter Hollie implored others to verify their passport’s validity and shared a tip for those caught out by the regulations. She explained: “Also, if you need an emergency passport, you need to allow two days to get one. The earliest you can renew is 2 days after you apply for the appointment at a passport office.
“Don’t have your heart broken like I did, know the rules (like I didn’t). Please share this with anybody travelling to the EU from the UK soon. I hope it’s useful.”
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