Brits travelling to and from Europe this summer will have to double-check their passports to avoid being banned from their flights.
One of the rules for travelling to and from countries in the European Union’s Schengen Area post-Brexit is ensuring that your passport is stamped each time.
Once the Brexit transitional period came to an end in January 2021, Brits have had to get their passports stamped on entry and exit when visiting countries such as France, Spain, Italy and Greece.
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Travellers from the UK must also have at least three months left on their passport from the day they plan to return home.
If you fail to get an exit stamp, you may risk staying over the limit as there is now a 90-day limit on visiting Schengen Area countries in any 180-day period.
This is why Britons must ensure they passport is stamped by airport staff to avoid any confusion regarding their permitted length of stay in the country.
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How much time you need on your passport depends on the country you’re visiting, and you can check the government website for the requirements for each country.
Some top holiday locations are included on this list, including France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Holidaygoers may need to renew their British passports before travelling to ensure enough time is left on it.
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Brits must also follow the same rules as non-EU travellers when holidaying in EU countries by securing a visa.
UK citizens must complete the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) which costs €7 (£5.95).
The ETIAS can be filled out online but must be completed before traveling.
In November 2021, the UK’s Foreign Office warned British travellers to check their passports on leaving countries in the EU’s Schengen Area.
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These countries are: Austria; Belgium; the Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; the Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; and Switzerland.
The government’s travel advice for travelling to Italy, for example, states: “Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area.
“Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit.
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“You can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen area, and ask the border guards to add this date and location in your passport. Examples of acceptable evidence include boarding passes and tickets.”
Gregory Robinson