ETIAS — European Travel Authorisation
Everything you need to know about the new EU travel authorisation.
Getting Started
Troubleshooting
The Schengen Area
30 European countries with no internal border controls.
Schengen Area
Rules & Tools
Schengen Short-Stay Visa
Complete guide to applications and requirements.
After Applying
Digital Nomad Visas
Residence visas for remote workers across 13 European countries — tax, family, citizenship paths, with 2026 ETIAS, EES and 90/180 rules explained alongside.
Top country guides
Compare by goal
Travel Insurance
Schengen-compliant cover guides.
Schengen Destinations
30 countries, top cities, and transit airports.
Popular Destinations
More Destinations
Transit
UK Travel
UK ETA, visas, and post-Brexit rules.
UK ETA
UK Travel
Check if your passport meets entry requirements for the Schengen Area, UK, or Ireland
For Schengen entry your passport must pass two tests: it was issued in the last 10 years (the “too-old” rule), AND it's valid for at least 3 months past your planned exit date (the “3-month margin” rule). Either fails and you're refused at the gate — even if the booklet looks fine. This checker walks you through both in a few seconds.
Having a passport that is not expired is not always enough. European countries have strict rules about passport validity that surprise thousands of travelers every year.
The most common surprise is the Schengen 3-month rule — your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your departure date. And the 10-year issue rule means even a passport with a valid expiry date can be rejected if it was issued more than 10 years ago.
Beyond your departure date
Schengen & UK
Plus 10-year issue rule
No extra margin needed
Your passport is sorted. The other thing worth doing before you fly is your phone: Saily gives you a European data plan you install at home and switch on when you arrive.
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All 30 Schengen countries share the same passport requirements (it is an EU-wide regulation). Your passport must meet all three conditions:
The 10-year rule exists because some countries (notably the UK before Brexit) added extra validity months when renewing passports early. Schengen countries ignore those bonus months.
The UK's passport rules are simpler than Schengen but still include the 10-year issue date check:
Ireland has the simplest requirements of the three:
Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area, so the 3-month and 10-year rules do not apply. However, Ireland is part of the Common Travel Area with the UK.
Only checking the expiry date: The 10-year issue rule can invalidate an otherwise valid passport
Confusing departure date with arrival: Schengen checks validity from when you leave, not when you arrive
Assuming all of Europe has the same rules: UK, Ireland, and Schengen each have different requirements
Waiting until the last minute: Passport renewal can take 4-6 weeks or more
Check early: Verify passport validity at least 3 months before booking flights
Renew proactively: If your passport has less than 6 months validity, renew it now
Know your departure date: For Schengen, the date that matters is when you leave the area
Check for both destinations: If visiting the UK and Schengen on the same trip, check both sets of rules
