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Warning issued to anyone who still has a red passport

Warning issued to anyone who still has a red passport

Do you still have one of the red passports?

Holiday season has begun, with thousands of Brits jetting off for sun-soaked weeks in the sun.

Before you head off abroad to relax, there's always plenty of logistics to sort out first. From making sure you've not overpacked, to sorting out transfers and ensuring you have all your flight documents.

Of course, you'll also need to make sure your passport is present and correct.

But if you still own a burgundy-coloured passport - aka the ones Brits had pre-Brexit - then take note.

Do you still have a burgundy passport? (Getty Stock Photo)
Do you still have a burgundy passport? (Getty Stock Photo)

A large number of countries have a rule about your passport before entering, which may impact those who haven't got the new blue British passports that were introduced post-Brexit.

Red passport holders would have had theirs issued prior to Brexit, which leaves them at risk of violating the 'six-month validity rule'.

What is the 'six-month validity rule'?

A number of countries require your passport to be valid for another six months before you leave for travel, so older passport holders are at risk of their documents not having long enough left.

There are actually 70 countries that follow this six-month passport rule, with 41 countries following a more laid-back three-month passport validity rule.

The blue passports were introduced post-Brexit (Getty Stock Photo)
The blue passports were introduced post-Brexit (Getty Stock Photo)

So by applying the same rules, your passport would need at least three more months of validity to enter these countries.

This means that it is crucial for red passport holders to check the expiry date of their document to ensure they aren't turned away at any borders.

Since Brexit, your passport must also be less than 10 years old upon arrival.

You can easily check if your passport will be valid for any trip on the gov.uk website, just by selecting a country and checking entry requirements.

Popular holiday destinations that have the six-month rule are:

  • Egypt
  • Fiji
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • Sri Lanka
  • The UAE

A few other destinations that have a three-month rule are:

  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Portugal
  • Spain

If you're travelling to Spain this year, Brits are being issued a warning over a ‘six drink rule’ in the Spanish Islands as part of a crackdown on tourists - which has seen multiple new rules brought in around alcohol.

Are you jetting off on holiday this year? (Getty Stock Photos)
Are you jetting off on holiday this year? (Getty Stock Photos)

Travel agent Thomas Cook issued a warning to its customers, updating them on package holidays.

The email explained: "Please be advised that a decree has been issued by the Balearic Government on a new restriction for All Inclusive meal option.

"There is a maximum of six alcoholic drinks per person per day that can be served and these drinks will be provided only during lunch and dinner (3 each)."

You can have more, but you have to pay for them on top of your package.

The rule was brought in following a rise in rowdy behaviour from tourists reportedly fuelled by those all-inclusive drinks.

Four areas are enforce the rule, which will be in place until at least 2028. They are:

  • Playa de Palma, Majorca
  • El Arenal, Majorca
  • Magaluf, Majorca
  • West End of San Antonio, Ibiza
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: UK News, Travel