Passport expiry calculator for UK travellers
Use this passport expiry calculator to check whether your UK passport may still be valid for travel. It helps you apply the main rules people often get confused about, including the EU / Schengen 10-year rule, the 3-month rule after travel, and the more common 6-month rule for many non-EU destinations.
Quick answer
Your passport expiry date on its own is not always enough.
- EU / Schengen: usually not a 6-month rule — your passport should normally be less than 10 years old on entry and have at least 3 months left after you leave.
- Many non-EU countries: often a cautious 6-month validity rule is used.
- Country-specific rules: some destinations use completely different rules, so always confirm official guidance too.
Passport expiry calculator form
Enter your passport and travel dates below.
How the passport expiry calculator works
Step 1
Enter your passport issue date and expiry date.
Step 2
Add your travel departure and return dates.
Step 3
Choose whether your trip is EU / Schengen or a non-EU journey.
Step 4
We calculate whether your passport appears to meet the common rule set for that trip.
Passport rules at a glance
| Trip type | Common rule used |
|---|---|
| EU / Schengen | Usually less than 10 years old on entry, plus at least 3 months left after leaving the Schengen area. |
| Many non-EU countries | Often a cautious 6-month validity rule is used. |
| Country-specific destinations | Some countries use their own passport validity rules, so official guidance should always be checked too. |
Why expiry date alone can be misleading
- Passport issue date: 1 March 2016
- Trip departure: 5 March 2026
- Passport expiry date: 1 September 2026
Even though the passport has not expired yet, it may still fail the EU / Schengen rule because it is more than 10 years old on travel.
- Departure date: 1 July 2026
- Passport expiry date: 1 November 2026
That may look fine at first glance, but for destinations that commonly expect 6 months’ validity, it could still be too close.
Common questions about passport expiry calculators
Can I rely only on the expiry date?
No. For some destinations, especially in Europe, the issue date matters as well as the expiry date.
Does Europe use a 6-month rule?
Usually not. EU and Schengen trips normally follow a different rule set based on issue date and post-trip validity.
Why use a calculator?
Because passport rules can be confusing, and a calculator helps you apply the dates more clearly before you travel.
Still unsure?
Use the calculator above, then double-check official guidance before booking or flying.