People planning 2026 getaways are being urged to check their passports, due to lesser-known travel rules that have come into effect post-Brexit.

You can apply for a British passport if you’re a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British overseas citizen, a British subject, a British national (overseas), or a British protected person.

To obtain a new or replacement document, an application must be submitted to HM Passport Office, with the current average processing time standing at three weeks or less.

Experts at Confused.com are advising travellers to inspect their passports. Alvaro Iturmendi said: “It is easier to get caught out than you might think.

“Our research found that less than half (43%) holidaygoers, know that if you are heading to the EU, your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before your departure date.”

As Mr Iturmendi outlined, all UK passport holders journeying to the Schengen zone must ensure their passport’s “date of issue” falls within 10 years of their arrival date.

Furthermore, the passport’s “expiry date” must be at least three months beyond their intended departure from the Schengen zone.

Should your passport fail to meet entry requirements, you’ll be refused boarding at your departure airport. So it’s absolutely worth checking yours now.

And should you need a replacement passport urgently, it could cost you as much as £235.

The current estimated processing time is a maximum of three weeks, though government officials caution it can occasionally take longer “if we need more information, or we need to interview you”.

If this applies to you, you’ll be contacted within the three-week timeframe.

A standard adult passport, for those aged 16 and over, costs £94.50 when applying online, or £107 when applying using the paper form.

If you need a passport urgently, a one-week fast track document costs up to £191 for an adult. A one-day premium service costs up to £235.