travel with expired passport uk

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• Identity services
• Rules for travelling with a soon-to-be expired passport

People can often forget to check the expiration date on their passports before travelling, assuming that as long as it’s in date then they will be fine. Crucially, a lot of countries still need a certain amount of time on a passport before they allow you in. Find out whether you can travel when your passport is about to expire with our handy guide.

How long should you have left on your passport?

Many people  pack their bags for a holiday or business trip with just a casual glance at their passport expiration date, but if it’s due to expire you may be refused entry. While most countries such as Australia, Canada and the USA just need your passport to be valid for the length of your stay,

other countries such as China, Thailand, Egypt and Turkey need at least six months. Always check the specific entry requirements for the country you are visiting on the GOV.UK website. You should make sure that your passport meets the following rules:

• The passport issue date is less than 10 years before day of arrival in the EU
• The passport expiry date is at least three months after intended day of departure from EU

In general, many countries that require a visa to enter will require at least six months validity on your passport when entering the country, so make sure you find out whether your passport has long enough before it expires before you travel.

It's easy to get your passport application or renewal right first time.

How do i find out how long i need on my passport.

The best way to find out if your passport is valid for travel to certain countries is to check the Travel Advice section of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) website. Choose the country you’re visiting, before clicking on ‘Entry requirements’ and scrolling down to ‘Passport validity’.

Passport rules for different countries

All countries will have their own rules concerning passport validity and expiration rules. Here’s a list of the most common ones:

Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay.

Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay, but if you have less than six months validity it may take longer to pass through immigration control.

Your passport should have at least six months validity.

European Union

For most European countries, HM Passport Office recommend that the passport expiry date is at least three months after intended day of departure from EU. Those countries are:

*However, if you’re travelling to the north of Cyprus, your passport should have at least six months validity.

Czech Republic

Netherlands

Your passport must be machine readable, with two blank pages for your visa and valid for a minimum of 180 days at the time of entry into India.

New Zealand

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of one month from the date of exit.

South Africa

Rules state that your passport should be valid for at least 30 days from the date of exit, but it’s recommended that you have at least six months on your passport before it expires. Your passport should also have at least two blank pages when you enter or leave South Africa.

Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay. However, your passport must be a biometric ePassport with the silver camera symbol on the front. There are also a number of other rules concerning entry to the USA , which you should check before travelling.

What to do if you need a new passport

If you need to renew your passport and have more than four weeks before you travel, pick up an application form from your local Post Office or use our online Passport Check & Send process.

If you need your passport more urgently, then read the Government’s official passport advice to find out more on soon to expire passports.

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Do I really need 6 months validity on my Passport?

When travelling abroad many people often neglect to check whether their passport have enough expiry time on them for travelling, but there are some myths that surround the travel industry in respect of expiry times, this article aims to help you identify them prior to planning your next trip or holiday.

Here are some of the myths surrounding passport validity and expiry times: • That you can travel to Europe without a Passport (Not True) • That you need 6 months of validly to travel outside the UK (Not True) • That you need a passport to travel to Ireland/Isle of Man/Guernsey (Not Always True) • That you can travel to Europe without a Passport or with a Passport that is expired (Not True) Many British Citizens believe that you can still travel to Europe on an expired passport or that they can simply use their driving licence or valid photo ID. This belief often stems from reports of European citizens using identity cards to both travel in Europe and visit the UK. In many cases European citizens do have the right to do this, but it is often restricted by certain conditions and time limits and unfortunately this does not apply for British Citizens looking at travel abroad, you must have a Full UK Passport in order to travel outside the UK. • That you need 6 months of validity on your passport to travel anywhere outside the UK (Not True) Most travel agents will often tell you that you need to have 6 months worth of validity on your current UK Passport, but this is only true for those travelling outside of Europe to the Middle East & Asia. If you are unsure there is an easy way to check the validity entry requirements for the country you are travelling to: 1) Visit the foreign and commonwealth website (fco.gov.uk) 2) Click the link on the homepage titled "Travel Advice" 3) You will now see a list of countries simply enter your travel destination in to the search box for example "Spain" 4) Once searched you will come to the overview page for your chosen country, simply click the "Entry Requirements" link this will show you some of the most important information about both Passport validity and any further restrictions for entering the chosen country. • That you need a passport to travel to Ireland/Isle of Man/Guernsey (Not Always True) This last myth is that many people believe that it is mandatory for British Passport holders to require a valid UK Passport in order to travel from the mainland UK to Isle of Man, Southern Ireland or other British territories such as Jersey or Guensey. This is some cases can be true, but in these cases it is not the government restricting you from travelling but the particular Airline or Travel Company that you are using when either flying or travelling by sea. We always recommend checking with your providers before applying to renew your passport as in some cases they will only require a valid photo ID such as a Driving Licence for adults and a valid UK Birth Certificate for children under the age of 16 years.

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What is the Minimum Passport Validity to Enter UK?

Anne morris.

• 28 June 2023

IN THIS SECTION

For a non-UK national planing to visit the UK, in most cases you’ll need to have a valid passport on arrival at the UK port of entry.

Where someone is travelling with a passport, they must also ensure that their passport is not due to expire, as they may be refused entry to UK , even if their passport is valid on arrival. This is because there are rules around minimum passport validity to enter Britain.

The following guide for non-UK nationals looks at the rules on both passport validity and expiry issues to avoid any delay or disappointment when passing through border control.

What is the minimum passport validity to enter UK?

Any traveler who is a national from outside the EEA or Switzerland, you must have a valid passport to enter the UK. On arrival in the UK, your passport will be checked to ensure that you are allowed to enter the country, where this should be valid for the entire duration of your planned stay.

EEA and Swiss nationals may be eligible to travel to the UK with a national identity card instead of a passport.

However, other countries have their own rules concerning passport validity and expiration rules. Some countries have in place a comparable rule to the UK, where a passport must be valid for the duration of the stay, while others have what is commonly referred to as the 6-month passport rule, which states that a person’s passport must be valid for another 6 months before they depart for international travel. The 6-month travel period may also commence from either the date of departure or arrival, depending on the country.

For example, for travel from the UK to India, a passport must be valid for a minimum of 180 days at the time of entry, while for travel from the UK to New Zealand, a passport should be valid for a minimum of one month from the date of exit.

Even where other countries do not follow the 6-month passport rule, they may still require that a passport is valid for 3 months. For example, for most European countries, it is recommended that the passport expiry date is at least 3 months after the intended day of departure from the EU, although for Northern Cyprus this is 6 months.

As such, it is important for anyone to check the validity of their passport before travelling. Equally, if an individual plans to travel to another country after leaving the UK, before returning to their home country, they should check the passport rules for that destination. At least 6 months remaining validity may be required for onward travel to many other countries. If an individual does not have the required time left remaining on their passport where they are bound for continental Europe or other destinations, at the very least, it may take longer to pass through immigration control, although they may also be refused entry.

Further, in addition to having sufficient time remaining on a passport, to be able to travel to the UK and other countries, a traveller may also need to have blank pages for any entry and exit stamps, where the UK itself requires at least one page. However, where a person wants to travel on, other countries may require more than one page. For example, to travel from the UK to India, a passport must be machine readable, with two blank pages for a visa.

What happens if someone’s passport will expire while in the UK?

If an individual’s passport is due to expire while they are in the UK, where a passport must be valid for the full length of a person’s stay, that person is likely to be denied boarding. If they are able to travel to the UK, it is also likely that they will be refused entry on arrival, where the rules on travelling with a soon-to-be expired passport are strict.

If someone is refused entry to the UK, they will be notified in writing of the reasons for this and whether they can appeal against this decision. They will also be told when they will be removed from the UK, although this will usually be with immediate effect. In some cases, a person may be allowed entry into the UK, for up to one week, although their passport will be taken from them and they must report to immigration officers at prescribed intervals.

What are the requirements for non-UK nationals when entering the UK?

In addition to having a minimum passport validity to enter UK soil, there are various other requirements that must be met, including having a visa where they do not otherwise have the lawful immigration status to enter the UK without one. There is a useful online tool at GOV.UK that can be used to check if someone needs a UK visa and, if so, what type.

An non-UK national may need a visa to come to the UK to either visit, study or work. They may also need a visa to come into or transit through the UK, depending on their nationality. There are two types of transiting: airside and landside. With airside transiting, the person does not pass through UK border control before they leave on their connecting journey, whereas with landside transiting, they do pass through UK border control, but come back through it and leave the UK within a short amount of time, typically 24 hours. A person will always pass through border control if they leave the main airport building for any reason or even if they need to collect their bags and check them in to their onward flight. Depending on the individual’s nationality, they may need a visa for both types of transiting.

If a person needs a visa to come to the UK, this must have been issued before they travel. They will also need a valid passport or other travel document to be able to successfully apply for a visa, ensuring that they have a blank page in their passport for this purpose.

Even for overseas nationals who do not need a visa in advance of travel to come to the UK, ie; non-visa nationals who are visiting the UK for less than 6 months, they may still need in their possession sufficient documentation to satisfy border officials that they are a genuine visitor who will not be undertaking any activities in the UK not permitted under the visitor rules, including paid employment, and that they intend to leave at the end of their stay.

What are the passport requirements for EEA or Swiss citizens?

If a person is from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, they can enter the UK using either a passport, an Irish passport card or an EEA or Swiss-issued national identity card, provided they are eligible to use one. As with other non-UK nationals, their passport or identity card must be valid for the whole stay in the UK. They can travel with a national identity card from an EEA country or Switzerland in the following circumstances:

• they have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) — introduced post-Brexit to enable EEA and Swiss citizens
• already living in the UK to apply for lawful immigration status — or Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man’s settlement schemes
• they have an EUSS family permit, or the equivalent from Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man
• they have a Frontier Worker permit
• they are an S2 Healthcare Visitor
• they are a Swiss national and have a ‘Service Provider from Switzerland’ visa.

If someone has either settled or pre-settled status under the EUSS, the passport or national identity card they are travelling with must be registered on their account with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). The same rule in relation to registering their passport or travel document on their UKVI account also applies if they used the ‘ UK Immigration: ID Check ’ app to scan their identity document when applying for a visa to enable them to come to the UK in circumstances where they do not otherwise have lawful immigration status.

Importantly, a person may be delayed at the UK border if their current passport or national identity card is not registered on their UKVI account. They should update their UKVI account if they have changed their passport or national identity card. They should also update their account if they have recently changed their name, address, postal or email address, as well as their mobile phone number. This is so that UKVI has up-to-date contact details if they need to get in touch, for example, in respect of a pending visa application.

It is worth noting that someone cannot change their identity document on their UKVI account if they are waiting for a decision from UKVI on a visa application, although they will need to wait for any visa decision before travelling in and out of the UK in any event.

What are the passport requirements for British citizens?

For British citizens, they can enter the UK with their passport, although if they are travelling from Ireland to Northern Ireland, they will not need any documents to enter.

If a British national is travelling from Ireland to England, Scotland or Wales, a Border Force officer may ask to see proof of that person’s identity and nationality, where they can use any documents that prove this, including a current or expired passport, a copy of their passport, provided this clearly shows their identity and nationality, or documentary proof that they have been given British citizenship, such as a UK citizenship certificate. If they are using an expired passport, it must be recent enough that it is clear that this is theirs.

What can a person expect on arrival at a UK port or airport?

As everyone will need to show a passport or national identity document on arrival in the UK, they must remove this from any holder or wallet and have this ready. They must also remove any face covering or sunglasses. If a person is with their family, they should move through passport control together and have all their passports ready to be checked.

If a person has a British passport, they can use the UK/EEA channel to get their passport checked, as this is often faster than the other channels. At some airports, they can also use automatic ePassport gates if their passport has a chip in it and they are aged 12 or over, where these gates use facial recognition technology to check someone’s identity against the photo in their passport. For travellers aged 12-17, they must be accompanied by an adult.

Equally, if a person is from the EEA or Switzerland, they can use the UK/EEA channel to get their passport or national identity card checked, or use the automatic ePassport gates where available at an airport and they have a passport with a chip. In contrast, if someone is from outside the EEA or Switzerland, their passport, and visa if they have one, will be manually checked at border control. They will also usually be asked why they are coming to the UK.

If a person is from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the USA, they can use the UK/EEA immigration lanes and the automatic ePassport gates. However, they must still see a border control officer and get a stamp in their passport if they are entering the UK on a permitted paid engagement or with a Tier 5 Creative or Sporting certificate of sponsorship for up to 3 months and they want to enter without a visa. They cannot get a stamp if they use the ePassport gates where, without a stamp, they will not be allowed to carry out the activities that they came to the UK to do.

In all cases, regardless of nationality, and even if British, those entering the UK should abide by the rules relating to what they bring with them into the UK. What someone can bring will depend on where they are travelling from, where they must declare to customs:

• anything over their duty-free allowance
• banned or restricted goods in the UK
• goods that they plan to sell in the UK
• more than €10,000 in cash, or its equivalent, if they are coming from outside the EU.

Both the individual and their baggage may be checked by customs for anything that must be declared. If someone is stopped and asked about their baggage, they must co-operate. If they are found to be breaking the rules for bringing goods into the UK, those goods may be seized by customs. They may also receive a penalty or, in the case of tobacco or alcohol, where someone has gone over their personal allowance, they may have to pay tax and duty.

Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.

She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.

Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator , and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals

• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ UK Register of Licensed Sponsors Guide
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The matters contained in this article are intended to be for general information purposes only. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor is it a complete or authoritative statement of the law, and should not be treated as such. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct at the time of writing, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. Before acting on any of the information contained herein, expert legal advice should be sought.

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What to do with an old passport

Passports hold important personal information and travel history, even when expired. You may want to keep it in a safe place for your reference, but there are ways to dispose of it safely to protect your sensitive information and prevent identity theft.

If you would like assistance with your UK visa application or are in need of some assistance in assessing your eligibility, contact IAS today at  +1 844 290 6312 . We are here to help you online, in person, or over the phone.

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Can I throw away my passport?

When your passport has expired, you may feel like throwing it away. However, this is one of the many ways your identity can be compromised.

Not only that but if you are a victim of identity theft, this exposes you to fraud and will hinder any application to renew your passport.

As a passport is an official document of your nationality, travel history, address, Right to Work for  British passport holders , and access to consular assistance overseas, it is vital that you protect this document.

Sarah Rapson from the Identity and Passport service suggests: ‘Your passport is not only increasingly attractive to fraudsters, but it will cost you at least £77.50 to replace, so it’s really important that you keep it safe both when you are at home and when you’re abroad.’

This still applies to an expired passport.

Passports are made to be durable documents that are not easily duplicated or forged. Because of this, it is advised you do not attempt to destroy your old passports yourself.

Instead, follow the steps below to return your expired passport to the The UK Passport Office where they will dispose of your invalid documents in a safe, thorough way.

Where do I return my old UK passport?

It is advised you refrain from simply throwing it away at home, and instead send all expired passports to the the UK Passport Office via postal service so they can dispose of it properly by incineration.

Passports are currently non-recyclable materials.

How to send an expired passport to be disposed of

To safely dispose of any old passports, simply send to The UK Passport Office:

• Securely package your old passports in a parcel or large envelope.
• Include a note within the parcel stating that you would like your passports to be disposed of.
• Seal the parcel and clearly write the address of the UK Passport Office on the front of your envelope. The UK Passport Office is a freepost address, so you will not need a stamp.
• Deliver to your local Post Office where they will post your old passports via Royal Mail.

Passport renewal

You are required to renew your passport before travel if your passport:

• Has less than 6 months validity
• Has expired
• Has significant damage or rips

Without your old passport, a renewal application will be more complicated and time consuming.

You will be required to apply as if you have had your passport lost or stolen, which entails providing a counter signatory, who will need to provide personal details and will hinder your application process.

To renew your passport, you must apply online via the  Gov.uk  website. You will need:

• A digital passport appropriate photo of the applicant
• A credit/debit card
• Your current valid passport

To renew a passport, the current cost is £75.50.

Lost or Stolen Passport

You must cancel your lost or stolen passport immediately through  Gov.uk . This is to prevent identity theft and safeguard your personal details.

If your passport is stolen, report it to the police by calling 101 in the UK.

If your passport is stolen abroad, report it to the local police department and ask for a written report which may be required of you by the British Embassy if you begin a replacement passport application.

You will need the name and contact details of someone who can confirm your identity.

Will Brexit mean I have to get a new passport?

UK citizens with a European Union passport will still be able to use their current passports after Brexit as long as it is valid for travel.

Post Brexit, all UK passports will retain their validity as British travel documents, but they will have less freedom within Eu travel.

Can I replace my passport via paper application?

Paper postal application forms are available to complete through your local Post Office. Alternatively, you are able to request an application form from  Passport Advice.

To complete this application, you will need:

• 2 identical passport appropriate images of yourself.

For more information on paper passport renewal applications, click  here .

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How many months do I need left on my UK passport before I travel?

Many countries across the world require you to have a few months left on your passport at the time of travel – here are the main holiday destinations to watch out for, article bookmarked.

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You might think that you can just hop on a plane with an in-date passport and travel the world. In fact, many countries demand that visitors have months left on their passport before it expires.

Some – including Australia , Canada and the US – only require your travel document to be in date for the duration of your trip.

But others give a more restrictive time frame, with no real pattern from region to region – while most of Asia requires six months on your passport, for example, different Caribbean islands demand different time frames.

In some destinations, you can also be caught out for not having enough space left in your passport for new immigration stamps.

Here are the key passport validity rules for British passports for the world’s top holiday destinations.

Valid for the duration of your stay

These countries only ask that your passport is valid until the day you leave the country.

*While this is technically the rule for Canada, if you have six months or less on your passport, it may take longer for you to get through immigration.

Valid for one day

Costa Rica requires Britons to have one day’s validity from the day of their departure.

Valid for three months

All EU countries, plus those in the Schengen Area (excluding Ireland) require you to have three months left on your passport from the day you plan to leave. Your passport must also be less than 10 years old on the day you enter the country. This is true for the following countries:

• Republic of Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Vatican City

These non-European countries also require three months’ validity on your day of departure:

• British Virgin Islands
• French Polynesia
• New Zealand
• South Korea

Valid for six months

In most cases, this means valid for six months from the date you arrive in the country, but it’s worth checking the Foreign Office’s individual entry requirements for the country you’re visiting to make sure.

• Antigua and Barbuda
• The Bahamas
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador (& Galapagos Islands)
• Madagascar*
• Philippines
• South Africa*
• United Arab Emirates

*South Africa, Madagascar, Kenya also require you to have two blank pages left in your passport; Namibia requires one blank page.

Valid for 180 days

India requires a more specific 180 days of validity from the date you arrive. It also asks visitors to have two blank pages available for their visa.

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Passport renewal after expiry UK – Your guide

Passport renewal after expiry UK – your guide to a simple online process through MyBritishPassport.

Time waits for no man. It can seem as if the years are flying by, and we often lose track of certain dates that can be of real importance.   For example, your British passport expiry date .

You may not notice this if you don’t intend to travel, but if you are not done exploring the rest of the world, you need to be certain of this important detail in your passport. 

Passport Renewal after expiry (UK)

Below are some questions you may need answers to before arranging your next trip.

1. How long after expiration can you renew a passport? 

If your passport was issued before 2004, or if your passport has been expired for ten or more years , the process of application for a valid passport is slightly different.

Instead of the usual, very simple application you would need to complete your passport renewal after the expiry of your UK passport, you will need to submit a new passport application.

This means that you will have to include all of your original documentation which varies according to your individual circumstance.  These include if you were:  

• born IN the UK before 01 January 1983,
• born IN the UK on or after 01 January 1983,
• born OUTSIDE of the UK and possess a certificate of registration or naturalisation,
• born OUTSIDE of the UK as a citizen of British Overseas Territory before 01 January 1983,
• born OUTSIDE of the UK before 01 January 1983 and your FATHER was born in the UK, or
• born OUTSIDE of the UK on or after 01 January 1983.

All of the scenarios listed above have different documentation requirements and these vary from a simple birth certificate to evidence of your parent’s marriage.

This can be very straightforward if your parents kept a well-maintained and easily accessible filing system at home, however, if you do not have access to these documents, the process can be quite intense. 

MyBritishPassport will advise on the relevant documents required for the process once your application is in process. We aim to make the British passport renewal or application process simple and stress-free. 

2. What is the current waiting time for a UK passport renewal?

The current waiting time for a UK passport renewal within a reasonable period after expiry does not usually exceed six weeks from successful submission. Please note that this is only an indication of the current waiting time, and is subject to change based on the demand that HM Passport Office is experiencing at any given time. Do not make any travel arrangements until you have a valid passport. 

Click here to renew your British Passport.

With MyBritishPassport, we generally advise our clients to expect the following wait times once their application has been submitted: 

• Renewals – 3 to 4 weeks or sooner
• First-time applications – 4 to 6 weeks or sooner
• Lost/Stolen/Damaged passport replacements – 4 to 6 weeks or sooner

3. Can I travel with an expired passport?

In short, the answer is no.  A valid passport is required to travel. Your passport, at the very least, must be valid until your return date and must contain three blank passport pages. 

If you need to travel and you have not noticed that your passport needs to be renewed you may apply for an ETD, short for an emergency travel document. This is usually requested when a citizen needs to travel urgently and they are unable to wait for a full renewed passport.

You may only apply for an Emergency Travel Document if you meet the following requirements:

• you’re a British national
• you’re outside the UK
• your passport has been lost, stolen, damaged, is full, has recently expired, or is with HM Passport Office or a foreign embassy
• you do not have time to renew or replace your passport before you travel
• you can provide proof of your travel plans, for example, booking confirmations (or detailed written travel plans if you cannot book ahead)

This document allows you to travel through a maximum of five countries and usually allows you to return to the country from where you applied for the ETD.

The countries where you are traveling, as well as the dates of your Emergency travel, will be recorded on your Emergency Travel Document. If your plans change, your emergency travel document is no longer valid and you will need to apply for another ETD with all of the updated travel destinations and dates included.   

Conclusion. Passport Renewal after expiry (UK)

Attempting a UK Passport renewal after expiry without any assistance can end up costing more than you ever intended to spend due to the very strict requirements of the UK passport office.

At MyBritishPassport, our service offering includes correct guidance and advice that ensures that your UK passport renewal after expiry is as simple as possible. We make it clear and understandable so that you feel well informed and stress-free throughout the process. Click here to renew your UK passport today.

I was a bit nervous to use the this system but proceeded. The application process was very easy and the instructions for passport picture submission were very clear. It could not have been easier/ There was constant communication regarding the progress and the next steps. Overall a seamless process. – Michael Burns via Google Reviews

Contact MyBritishPassport

MyBritishPassport specialises in British Passport renewals and applications from abroad. Get in touch with us today.

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ABOUT MYBRITISHPASSPORT

A member of the U.K.PASSPORTS™ group, MyBritishPassport is the leading international British Passport Service Provider catering to British citizens residing outside of the UK. Since its establishment in 2008, the company has been offering efficient and hassle-free online services for British Passport renewals, replacements, and applications from abroad.

The company has gained a reputation as a leading service provider in the industry, with countless verified five-star reviews from satisfied clients worldwide. This speaks volumes about their excellent service quality.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Mum ‘treated like a criminal’ in Turkey after son flew with an expired passport

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A mum has claimed her family were held ‘like criminals’ for 24 hours with little food or water and lost their £6,000 Turkish holiday – all because she forgot to check her son’s passport expiry.

Amber Maherloughnan flew from London Gatwick to Antalya, Turkey , on August 5 with her family to enjoy a week-long holiday.

But the 28-year-old was shocked to be told her six-year-old son Reuben’s passport was nearly four months out of date upon arriving in Turkey.

She said their passports were snatched from them and they were held for 24 hours by Turkish authorities in a room with 13 other people and only a ‘disgusting’ toilet to use.

She claims that the only food they were given was a rotten tomato and an egg that were ‘kicked at them’.

Amber’s fiancé Will Land-Smith, 31, tried to get a temporary travel document from the Turkish embassy -but this would not guarantee entry.

As a result, they had to fly home the next day, missing out on the £6,000 trip.

She shared a heartbreaking photo of Reuben staring out the plane window mournfully as he is forced to return home without having his holiday.

Taking to Facebook, the photographer posted a picture of Reuben staring sadly out of the plane window, captioned ‘let this be a lesson to all parents check your kids passports’.

Amber, who lives in Lewes, East Sussex, said: ‘It was horrible. I don’t want pity for myself. It was my fault. But the way I was treated with a child wasn’t fair. That’s the bit that got me the most. And how easily done it can be. I should never have been flown through. It was an oversight.

‘Embarrassingly, the passport expired about three months before. I do take full responsibility. But I do feel like when you’re at an airport and they say it’s passport security, their job is to do passport security.

‘To feel vulnerable in the sense they genuinely let me through the country so easily is very upsetting.’

Amber said she went to Turkey with her family to spend money on things and support their country, but was treated badly.

She added: ‘It’s just sad. I’m basically a tourist and my son and I were treated like that. It was the thought of him going through it all. Luckily, he was amazing. It was not nice for him at all.’

She admitted she hadn’t checked her son’s passport before travelling and didn’t realise it had expired on April 16 until they arrived in Turkey.

Amber said she arrived at passport check-in and had no issues, before arriving in Turkey where an officer began shouting at them.

She said: ‘The officer went through our passports and said that it was all fine. He saw my son’s and just started shouting and saying “the police are being called. Your passports expired and you won’t be allowed into the country.”

‘I was shocked. I said “I’m so sorry, I don’t know what to do.” I was absolutely terrified. I didn’t know what was going to happen.’

After she was taken into an office with her son, she was told she couldn’t enter the country and Amber said officers tried to get her to sign paperwork.

She said: ‘Then they locked me in a room for 13 hours without what I’d call food. They put a rotten tomato and an egg in a box and kicked it across to me.

‘They gave me one bottle of water for myself and my son. At one point there were 13 of us in this room. They treated me like a criminal.

‘There was one bed with no bedsheet, no blanket, no pillow, no nothing. The floor was disgusting, the toilet was disgusting. I curled up in the corner where the radiator was. I didn’t really tell anyone what was going on because there was nothing anyone could do. It was just disgusting. Some of the guards terrified me.’

Amber revealed her 31-year-old partner, who is a fencer, and his six-year-old son had to leave the airport and contacted the Turkish embassy to try and secure a temporary travel document.

However, the mum and son were forced to fly home the next day as there was no guarantee this paperwork would allow them entry into the country.

The mum-of-one revealed the experience left her feeling like she’d ruined everything after forking out £6,000 for the trip and vows to be extra careful in future.

Amber said: ‘It’s ruined our whole holiday financially. We had to book separately for another flight home. Expensively, it was bad. I’ve just been in limbo the whole time. It’s been quite traumatic and upsetting and I just feel like I’ve ruined everything.

‘We’d taken the week off work and spent £6,000 that we’re never going to get back now. I will never do that again in my lifetime. I will be extra careful.’

The UK Government website states that if you are visiting Turkey, your passport must be valid for at least 150 days from the date you arrive.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs state on their website that visitors are ‘kindly advised to have a travel document/passport valid for at least six months as from the date of your arrival in Turkey’.

Gatwick said it is the airline’s responsibility to check passports and board passengers onto flights and that they don’t have any involvement.

Antalya Turkey airport said it was a matter for the passport police authorities to comment on.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

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Family held in Turkish cell for 24-hours over passport mistake

Amber says they were held with 13 other people in a room with a disgusting toilet and given only a rotten tomato and an egg to eat

• 10:24, 13 SEP 2024
• Updated 11:55, 13 SEP 2024

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A 'traumatised' mum claims her family were held 'like criminals' for 24 hours with little food or water and lost their £6,000 Turkish holiday - all because she forgot to check her son's passport expiry. Amber Maherloughnan flew from London Gatwick to Antalya, Turkey with her family to enjoy a week-long holiday.

However the 28-year-old was 'shocked' to be told her six-year-old son Reuben's passport was nearly four months out of date upon arriving in Turkey. The 'terrified' parent claims the pair had their passports 'snatched' away and were detained for nearly 24 hours by Turkish authorities in a room with 13 other people and only a 'disgusting' toilet to use.

She claims they were given barely any food or water - only a 'rotten tomato and an egg' that was 'kicked at them'. Amber's fiance Will Land-smith, 31, tried to get a temporary travel document from the Turkish embassy - however this would not guarantee the duo entry.

The mum-of-one was forced to pay for her 'silly mistake' as they had to fly home the very next day and miss out on the £6,000 trip. She shared a heartbreaking photo of little Reuben staring out the plane window mournfully as he is forced to return home without having his holiday.

Taking to Facebook , the photographer posted a picture of Reuben staring sadly out of the plane window, captioned 'let this be a lesson to all parents check your kids passports'. Amber, who lives in Lewes, East Sussex, said: "It was horrible. I don't want pity for myself. It was my fault.

"But the way I was treated with a child wasn't fair. That's the bit that got me the most. And how easily done it can be. I should never have been flown through. It was an oversight. "Embarrassingly, the passport expired about three months before. I do take full responsibility. But I do feel like when you're at an airport and they say it's passport security, their job is to do passport security.

"To feel vulnerable in the sense they genuinely let me through the country so easily is very upsetting. It was a real honest mistake. We didn't deserve that treatment. It's a touring country. I'm going there as a family to spend money on things to support their country and I'm treated in such a bad way.

"It's just sad. I'm basically a tourist and my son and I were treated like that. It was the thought of him going through it all. Luckily, he was amazing. It was not nice for him at all."

The parent revealed she hadn't checked her son's passport, which expired on 16 April 2024, before travelling and had 'no idea the whole time' it had passed until they arrived in Turkey. Amber said: "I had no idea the whole time it was out of date. It was a very silly mistake.

"We got to the passport check-in. Then we boarded the plane and our passports were checked again, no issues at all. Nothing was said. We came into Turkish airlines to the passport control. My son's passport was the last passport at the bottom. The officer went through our passports and said that it was all fine. He saw my son's and just started shouting and saying 'the police are being called. Your passports expired and you won't be allowed into the country'.

"I was shocked. I said 'I'm so sorry, I don't know what to do'. I was absolutely terrified. I didn't know what was going to happen."

The mum revealed she and her son were detained by police officers for nearly 24 hours and claimed they were treated like 'criminal[s]'. Amber said: "They treated me like a criminal. They took me into an office with four officers and said 'you're not allowed into the country, there's nothing you can do'.

"They tried to get me to sign this paperwork and snatched the passports out of my hands, they wouldn't give them to me. Then they locked me in a room for 13 hours without what I'd call food. They put a rotten tomato and an egg in a box and kicked it across to me.

"They gave me one bottle of water for myself and my son. At one point there were 13 of us in this room. They treated me like a criminal. I asked to have our cases in and they said, 'no'. I did manage to get my son's case because it was a tiny hand-held one. They threw his clothes round the room and checked through his bag for I don't know what because I'd already been through security.

"There was one bed with no bedsheet, no blanket, no pillow, no nothing. The floor was disgusting, the toilet was disgusting. I curled up in the corner where the radiator was. I didn't really tell anyone what was going on because there was nothing anyone could do. It was just disgusting. Some of the guards terrified me."

Amber revealed her 31-year-old partner, who is a fencer, and his six-year-old son had to leave the airport and contacted the Turkish embassy to try and secure a temporary travel document. However, the mum and son were forced to fly home the next day as there was no guarantee this paperwork would allow them entry into the country.

Amber said: "I had false hope that we were going to get in and then not get in and it was going to be alright. I was just counting down the minutes until we were going to be let out. They told my partner he wasn't allowed in the airport and told him he had to go through so he went in and went to the holiday.

"My partner called the embassy and tried to sort out a temporary document so we could get my son into the country. They said that even if we got a document they wouldn't let us in now. The only flight I could get on was the next day at 3pm. They wouldn't tell me when it was or where it was.

"It was just awful. It came round to the next day and they wouldn't tell me what flight it was. The police officers came in and grabbed me and escorted me to the plane. They wouldn't let me grab any food.

"I would never fly with that airline again. Even when I was on the Turkish plane I still wasn't given my passport and I was still spoken to rudely." The mum-of-one revealed the experience left her feeling like she'd 'ruined everything' after forking out £6,000 for the trip and vows to be 'extra careful' in the future.

Amber said: "It's ruined our whole holiday financially. We had to book separately for another flight home. Expensively, it was bad. I've just been in limbo the whole time. It's been quite traumatic and upsetting and I just feel like I've ruined everything.

"We'd taken the week off work and spent £6,000 that we're never going to get back now. I will never do that again in my lifetime. I will be extra careful."

The UK Government website states that if you are visiting Turkey, your passport 'must be valid for at least 150 days from the date you arrive'. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs state on their website that visitors are 'kindly advised to have a travel document/passport valid for at least six months as from the date of your arrival in Turkey'.

Gatwick said it is the airline's responsibility to check passports and board passengers onto flights and that they don't have any involvement. Antalya Turkey airport said it was a matter for the passport police authorities to comment on.

SunExpress airline and the Turkish Police Association and their passport division have been approached for a comment.

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UK to expand digital travel to more visitors

By April 2025, all visitors who do not need a visa will need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK.

The government is taking major steps towards delivering its ambitious aim to digitise the UK border and immigration system and has today set out new implementation dates for the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme.

Everyone wishing to travel to the UK – except British and Irish citizens – will need permission to travel in advance of coming here. This can be either through an ETA or an eVisa.

Today we are confirming that from 27 November 2024, eligible non-Europeans can apply for an ETA and will need an ETA to travel from 8 January 2025. ETAs will then extend to eligible Europeans from 5 March 2025, who will need an ETA to travel from 2 April 2025.

ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller’s passport and ensure more robust security checks are carried out before people begin their journey to the UK, helping to prevent abuse of our immigration system. An ETA costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to 6 months at a time over 2 years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.  

From today, information about ETA eligibility is available on GOV.UK . Anyone needing to apply for an ETA will be able to do so through a quick and simple process using the UK ETA app.

Gulf Cooperation Council visitors already need an ETA to travel to the UK.

The introduction of ETAs is in line with the approach many other countries have taken to border security, including the US and Australia.

Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra, said:

Digitisation enables a smooth experience for the millions of people who pass through the border every year, including the visitors we warmly welcome to the UK who are predicted to contribute over £32 billion to our tourism economy this year. The worldwide expansion of the ETA demonstrates our commitment to enhance security through new technology and embedding a modern immigration system.

People who need a UK visa to live, work or study in the UK are now issued with an eVisa, providing digital proof of immigration status, instead of physical immigration documents which can be lost, stolen, or tampered with. eVisas mean people no longer have to wait for or travel to collect a physical document, streamlining their experience.

The government is asking migrants in the UK who currently use a physical immigration document, including a biometric residence permit (BRP), or a passport containing ink stamps or visa vignette stickers, to take action now and create an online account to access their eVisa .

Most BRPs are due to expire on 31 December 2024, and BRP holders are urged to take action before their BRP expires.

Creating the account enables people to use online services to prove their rights and manage their data, such as their personal details and passport information, and won’t impact their underlying immigration status. Through government funding, extra support is being provided for vulnerable people who need to take action to move from physical documents to an eVisa.

The government continues to work closely with global airline, maritime and rail carriers, who are crucial to ensuring smooth implementation of our digitisation programme.

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