A couple were turned away from their £1,000 holiday weekend because of a post-Brexit “passport 10-year rule”. UK travellers used to be able to carry up to nine months from an old passport over on to a new one. But post-Brexit, EU countries will not accept passports issued more than 10 years ago.
Paul Mason, 59, and his partner, Zoe Rooney, 47, were “extremely excited” about their three-day holiday to Athens to see a gig they had booked in December 2024. However, Zoe was turned away at the boarding gate in Stanstead on Thursday, February 20 because her passport was more than ten years old, despite its expiry date being August 2025.
The couple from Hertford, Hertfordshire, missed out on their first-ever trip to Greece and the chance to see their favourite band, Kosheen – who are celebrating their 25th anniversary. The couple has said they are over £1,000 out of pocket from the incident.
Zoe, a quantity surveyor, said they had forked out £465 on accommodation, £408 on return flights, £108 on airport parking, £50 on fuel to get to the airport, £50 on drinks and food at the airport, and £60 on gig tickets. Paul, a project director said: “It made us feel like criminals.
“When we had booked our flights online, nothing flagged us to say that her passport was invalid. We thought everything was alright; we made it through check-in and security before it was pointed out to us.It was only when we were minutes from boarding our flight that we were told we couldn’t fly.
“We were in the queue when a guy from Ryanair stopped us. They didn’t offer any solution to the situation apart from to ‘get a new passport’, so we had to head home.”
Travelling with a passport, which has passed its 10-year anniversary, even if it has several months left to run, is not allowed for all EU countries – including Greece, but with the exception of Ireland. It must also be valid for three months after the planned return date.
Zoe had her passport issued to her on November 19, 2014, and the expiry date is listed as August 9, 2025. But, “had no idea bout the rule,” she said.“It was very embarrassing when we were called out in front of everybody outside our boarding gate.
“To have prepared for this trip for weeks and ready to go down to the airplane – to then be turned away was very upsetting. We had to spend, what was supposed to be a fun time exploring a new city, at home in bed.”
She is currently in the process of renewing her passport and is hoping to spread awareness of the “little known” rule for any summer holidaymakers. A spokesperson for Ryanair has said: “Passport must meet the requirements for travel from the UK to the EU, which are set out by the European Commission Migration & Home Affairs Office – not Ryanair.
“Passports must be issued within 10 years of the date of departure into the EU [and] it is each passenger’s responsibility to ensure that their passport is valid for travel in line with the relevant State requirements at the time of travel. These requirements are clearly set out on Ryanair.com, and passengers are reminded with pop-up messages during booking.”