UK passport holders, brace yourselves for an imminent price surge from April 10 as fees climb to £94.50 for a new adult document. To avoid paying more, people planning trips abroad this year are being urged to check their passports for one overlooked yet pivotal detail.

Pay attention to the expiration date on your travel document, reports Manchester Evening News. Regulations can differ across countries, and any discrepancy might just stop you in your tracks before you even board your flight. Mike Harvey, from 1st Move International said: “Post-Brexit passport rules have caught many travellers off guard, especially those who only check their expiry date.”

For those aiming for an extended journey or considering a move abroad, he insists it’s absolutely vital to ensure your passport’s longevity lines up with your plans, saying: “If you’re relocating or travelling long-term, it’s crucial to double-check passport validity to avoid being denied boarding or entry.”

So what do you need to be aware of when looking at your passport?

Mike said: “If you’re planning to travel long term, ensure your passport is valid for the entire duration of your stay. Many countries enforce a ‘six-month rule,’ meaning your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your departure date.”

Brits eager to jet off to EU destinations post-Brexit must be wary of new passport rules that could spoil their travel plans.

“For travel to most EU countries post-Brexit, British passports must have been issued within the last ten years and have at least three months of validity left,” he continued. “This means that even if your passport hasn’t expired, it could still be rejected if it was issued more than a decade ago.

“Passports issued after 2018 are valid for exactly ten years, but those issued before September 2018 may have had extra months added, making them valid for up to ten years and nine months. For example, a passport expiring in August 2025 but issued in November 2014 would no longer be valid under the new rules.”

These stringent regulations are not just for the 27 EU nations – except for Ireland – they also apply to non-EU countries of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, which are part of the European Economic Area, and Switzerland.

Travel expert Mike has some crucial advice for UK holidaymakers: ensure your passport was issued less than ten years before your EU trip.

Moreover, it’s vital to check for at least three months of validity beyond your intended stay.

Savvy travellers should aim for six months’ validity since numerous global destinations demand it.

Should your passport expire while you’re soaking up foreign sun, an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) is your ticket home, albeit only good for one journey.

Mike warned: “If your passport expires while abroad, you’ll need an Emergency Travel Document (ETD). However, ETDs are valid for a single or return journey only, allowing you to travel through a maximum of five countries. Some countries may require visas, and others, like Myanmar and Laos, won’t accept an ETD.

“Over 22,000 ETD applications were made in 2023, so it’s always best to ensure your passport is valid before you travel.”