BRITISH holidaymakers are finding themselves banned from their flights and missing out on their trips due to confusing new rules.
Since the UK left the EU, the entry restrictions for holidaymakers have changed.
There are two new rules when it comes to your passport validity.
The first rule is that passports must no longer be more than 10 years old – previous rules let Brits roll up to an extra nine months on their passports.
This meant passports could previously be valid for as long as 10 years and nine months, but the extra months are no longer counted.
And the second rule, when travelling to travel to Europe, is that passports must also have an extra three months left on them from the date of leaving the country.
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Previously, it was thought that both of the rules needed to be followed at the same time, meaning Brits could need an extra 12 months on their passport then they thought.
However, this isn't the case – and the rules can be followed independently of each other.
The Independent reports that the Migration and Home Affairs Department of the European Commission in Brussels confirmed this.
They explained: “Entry should be allowed to those travelling with passports issued within the previous 10 years at the moment of entry into the Schengen area.
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“The condition that the passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years does not extend for the duration of the intended stay. It is enough if this condition is fulfilled at the moment of entry.
Despite these rules being confirmed, many tour operators and airlines are not aware of this and have turned Brits away.
Families should check with the airline before booking their holiday what rules they are following to be left out of pocket and being forced to miss their flights.
If you do find yourself being turned away, you should contact your tour operator and check your travel insurance as well.
Anne, 79, was turned away from her TUI flight for this very reason.
After booking a 10-day holiday to Tenerife with her partner, she was banned from checking in after being told her passport wasn't valid.
However, the tour operator later u-turned – only for the couple to have already missed the holiday – and issued a full refund.
Another Brit, Mary Rankin was stopped from flying to Disneyland Paris to celebrate her 70th birthday for a similar issue.
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She was forced to buy a last minute passport, managing to get one in time to fly the same day, and easyJet eventually issued a full refund and her costs of the passport.
And a dad had to miss four days of his holiday after airline staff said his passport was out of date under new EU rules – despite heading to non-EU country Egypt.
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