evidence: Previously, some UK passports issued before 1st October 2018 had additional months added from an early renewal. These extra months are no longer accepted as valid for entry into EU and Schengen Area countries. The EU only considers the actual issue date, and your passport must fall within the 10-year validity window from that date. [...] In addition to the 10-year issue rule, ensure that your passport is valid for at least three months after your planned departure date from the EU. The UK government, however, recommends having six months of validity on your passport for entry into the Schengen area as a precaution to avoid any travel difficulties. If you do not have enough time left on your passport, you will need to renew this before travel. [...] To check your passport’s validity online for an EU trip, visit the official FCDO website or use a trusted passport expiry checker tool to confirm that your passport adheres to the 10-year issuance and 3-month post-departure validity rules.