All pages checked against GOV.UK and European Commission sources on 10 September 2026
The two passport rules for travel to Europe, and why they get confused
4 September 2026
The Schengen area applies an issue date rule and an expiry date rule. They are measured from different days, they fail independently, and a passport can pass one while failing the other.
Read more →The EU Entry/Exit System and ETIAS: where each one has got to
2 September 2026
EES became fully operational on 10 April 2026 and replaced passport stamping. ETIAS is a different scheme and is not in operation. What each means for a British passport, and why we are not quoting a launch date.
Read more →When to renew a UK passport, and how long it takes
28 August 2026
HM Passport Office quotes 3 weeks for a standard application. Renew too early and you lose months you paid for, since nothing has carried over from an old passport since September 2018.
Read more →What counts as a damaged passport, and what does not
21 August 2026
Lifting laminate is damage. A curled corner is wear and tear. The line HM Passport Office draws between them, and what happens if your passport falls on the wrong side of it.
Read more →Child passports: five years, and the trap at sixteen
14 August 2026
Five years rather than ten, which puts every household's passports out of step. The date that catches families out is usually a birthday rather than an expiry date.
Read more →Lost or stolen passport: cancelling it, and getting home
7 August 2026
Cancelling is right and it is permanent. What to do at home, what to do abroad, and where the £125 emergency travel document fits in.
Read more →UK passport fees: what each route costs
31 July 2026
The published fees for adult and child passports, online and on paper, the 54 page frequent traveller option, and the extras that are easy to miss.
Read more →Fast Track and Premium services: what they cost and who can use them
24 July 2026
Both are appointment based, both cost considerably more, and neither covers a first adult passport. The 1 day Premium service is adult renewals only.
Read more →Start here instead
- The guide to UK passport validity, which covers every rule in one place.
- Frequently asked questions, for a straight answer to a single question.
- The checker, if you just want to know whether your own passport works for a trip.
General information, not travel or legal advice. This site is independent and is not connected to HM Passport Office or GOV.UK. Check GOV.UK foreign travel advice for your destination before you book and again before you travel.