Couple are turned away from £1,000 Greek holiday after falling foul of post-Brexit passport rule – here’s how to make sure you don’t get caught out too

A British couple said they ‘felt like criminals’ after they were turned away from their £1,000 holiday weekend in Greece because of a post-Brexit passport ‘ten-year rule’.

UK travellers used to be able to carry up to nine months from an old passport over on to a new one. But post-Brexit, EU countries will not accept passports issued more than ten years ago.

Paul Mason, 59, and his partner, Zoe Rooney, 47, were ‘extremely excited’ about their three-day holiday to Athens to see a gig they had booked in December 2024.

But Zoe was turned away at the boarding gate in Stansted Airport on February 20 because her passport was more than ten years old, despite its expiry date being August 2025.

Travelling with a passport which has passed its ten-year anniversary, even if it has several months left to run, is not allowed by EU countries – with the exception of Ireland. 

It must also be valid for three months after the planned return date – a regulation which has caught out many.

The couple from Hertford, Hertfordshire, missed their first-ever trip to Greece and the chance to see their favourite band, Kosheen – which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

They have said they are more than £1,000 out of pocket from the incident.

Zoe, a quantity surveyor, said they had forked out £465 on accommodation, £408 on return flights, £108 on airport parking, £50 on fuel to get to the airport, £50 on drinks and food at the airport, and £60 on gig tickets.

Paul, a project director, said: ‘It made us feel like criminals.

‘When we had booked our flights online, nothing flagged us to say that her passport was invalid.

‘We thought everything was alright; we made it through check-in and security before it was pointed out to us.

‘It was only when we were minutes from boarding our flight that we were told we couldn’t fly.

‘We were in the queue when a guy from Ryanair stopped us.

‘They didn’t offer any solution to the situation apart from to get a new passport, so we had to head home.’

Zoe had her passport issued to her on November 19, 2014, and the expiry date is listed as August 9, 2025.

‘I had no idea about the rule,’ she said.

‘It was very embarrassing when we were called out in front of everybody outside our boarding gate.

‘To have prepared for this trip for weeks and ready to go down to the airplane – to then be turned away was very upsetting.

‘We had to spend what was supposed to be a fun time exploring a new city at home in bed.’

She is currently in the process of renewing her passport and is hoping to spread awareness of the ‘little-known’ rule for any summer holidaymakers.

The couple missed out on their first-ever trip to Greece and the chance to see their favourite band, Kosheen

A spokesperson for Ryanair has said: ‘Passport must meet the requirements for travel from the UK to the EU, which are set out by the European Commission Migration & Home Affairs Office – not Ryanair.’

‘Passports must be issued within 10 years of the date of departure into the EU [and] it is each passenger’s responsibility to ensure that their passport is valid for travel in line with the relevant State requirements at the time of travel.

‘These requirements are clearly set out on Ryanair.com, and passengers are reminded with pop-up messages during booking.’

Last year a soldier and massive Star Wars fan was told he might have to forgo his dream holiday after his young son was denied a passport over copyright concerns.

An application for Loki Skywalker Mowbray – who was born on May 4, known as ‘Star Wars Day’ to enthusiasts – was thrown out by Home Office officials ‘for copyright issues’.

His father, Christian Mowbray, 48, who serves with the Corps of Royal Engineers at Rock Barracks near Woodbridge, Suffolk, was told by the Home Office to either change his son’s name or get permission from the copyright owner, Disney.