DOUBLE CHECK YOUR PASSPORT WAS ISSUED WITHIN THE LAST 10 YEARS BEFORE TRAVELLING TO THE EU, SAYS BROWN  

A new report has revealed that 2.4 million people across the UK have been caught out by a new post-Brexit “10-year rule”, with many having to cancel their travel plans, or pay thousands of pounds extra to continue to travel to the EU.  

Prior to Brexit, when applying for a new passport UK citizens were able to add up to nine months from their old passport to their new one – meaning that some UK passports have expiry dates which are longer than 10 years from their issue date printed on them.  

The UK’s decision to leave the EU against the will of Scottish voters, is now causing difficulties for Scottish holidaymakers, as a post-Brexit rule means that to gain entry to most EU countries, a UK passport must have been issued less than ten years before the date you enter and be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave – in other words, meaning those additional months on some UK passports are no longer valid.  

MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane is reminding his constituents to double check that their passport was issued within the last 10 years and has an additional 3 months till its expiration date, before travelling to the EU this summer.  

SNP MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Keith Brown, said: 

“I am urging all of my constituents set to travel to Europe and abroad soon to check and double-check that their passport is valid. You can check entry requirements for individual countries on the UK government’s website. 

“What we are seeing here is the real-life consequences of Brexit. Many holidaymakers in Scotland have been caught out by this rule, which is caused by Brexit – the same Brexit which was rejected Scottish voters. 

“The chaos we’ve seen so far will only get worse, and it doesn’t bode well for the new rules set to come in later this year on biometric passport checks. The UK government must do all it can to ensure the further new rules don’t create the same situation, leaving families unable to go on holiday and out of pocket. 

“Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster from the beginning – but the Tories and Labour are sticking their heads in the sand over this fact and are determined to stay the course. 

“Scotland needs representatives who aren’t afraid to call out Brexit for the disaster it is and who will continue to lead the opposition to Scotland’s forced removal from the EU.  

“Only a vote for the SNP and independence for Scotland can guarantee that.”