UK citizens who want to spend holiday in any of the EU destinations are advised to check the validity of their passport before travelling to the Schengen area, Schengen Visa Info reports.
Under Schengen rules, passports of third-country nationals, including UK citizens after Brexit, must be valid for at least three more months after leaving the EU. Otherwise, these citizens may face with serious consequences.
As well as passport validity requirements, British passports must be issued within ten years before entering the Schengen area, so Britons should now also check the date of issue of their passport. UK’s Foreign Office said in a statement:
“Contact the embassy of the country you are visiting if you think that your passport does not meet both of these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.”
Britons are also reminded to check the stamps in their passports when entering or leaving the Schengen area, which are checked by border guards and indicate whether the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays has been respected.
However, boarding passes and tickets that show the date of entry or exit from the Schengen area can serve as evidence for Britons and they can ask border officials to put that date and place on their travel document. Those who live in Portugal only need to present their residence document and passport at the border control and do not need to stamp it.
Citizens of the UK and other non-EU countries can use e-gates to pass through if a border officer stamps their passport. However, using an e-gate to leave a particular country, such as Portugal, is not allowed if the person entered from another EU country.
Britons can travel to the Schengen area for 90 days within a 180-day period without the need for a visa. The purpose of their visit can be for tourism, family visits, business meetings, short-term study or training.
However, for longer stays, UK citizens must obtain a long-stay visa, which can be issued for work, study or other purposes. Failure to apply for a visa is considered to be exceeding the authorised period of stay and may result in restrictions such as a temporary entry ban and deportation.
Britons most often spend their holidays in Portugal, Spain and Greece. By following Schengen rules, they can continue to enjoy holidays in these countries.
Some 41 countries, including Schengen member states, require a three-month passport validity period, while some 70 countries around the world require a further six months of passport validity after leaving the country concerned.
