Thousands of UK passports set to expire could block Spain holiday travel
British tourists heading to Spain this October may be denied boarding because many passports are due to expire and Spain requires extra validity checks.
A Freedom of Information request to the HM Passport Office, cited by Wizz Air, reveals that 135,006 British adult passports will lapse this month, followed by 125,405 in November and 106,768 in December - more than 367,000 in the next three months. Spain enforces two additional criteria for British visitors: the passport must remain valid for three months beyond the intended exit date and must have been issued less than ten years before arrival, as stipulated by GOV.UK.
Because the UK ten-year rule can differ from the printed expiry date, some passports that seem current may still be refused at check-in. Holidaymakers have already lost trips this summer under these rules. Travelers planning trips to Spain, including October half-term or winter holidays, should check both dates now and apply for a new passport if necessary.
Why it matters
Expired or insufficiently valid passports can cause UK travelers to miss flights to Spain, affecting holiday plans and requiring last-minute passport renewals.
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