EastEnders’ Tracy-Ann Oberman was denied boarding on a flight to Spain. This is a detail that you should check before traveling.

EastEnders’ Tracy-Ann Oberman revealed that she was not able to fly to Spain due to an EU passport rule, even though her passport had an expiry date of 2027.

Stars shocked by passport issues at airport

Tracy-Ann Oberman, a former EastEnders actress, says Ryanair staff refused to allow her to travel because they decided her passport didn’t meet European Union entry criteria despite the fact that it had almost two years remaining before expiration.

Oberman, who shared her experience with the world on social media explained that she had assumed her expired passport was valid because it was printed. Before boarding, checks revealed that, under the current EU regulations, it was not valid for travel to Spain based on its expiry or issue dates.

Oberman’s experience shows that even if a passport appears valid, it may not meet the requirements to enter many European destinations.

Why the 10-year rule on passports catches travelers off guard

Most UK passports that are used to travel to Schengen countries must have been issued within 10 years of the date of arrival. Passports also need to have a minimum of three months remaining validity after the departure date.

The confusion is often caused by older British passports which include extra months from an earlier document. These months are still printed on the expiry date but they do not count when calculating a passport’s age to enter most EU countries.

Oberman’s story is not unique. In the summer of this year, a British woman was denied boarding a flight from London to Greece because her passport did not meet EU validity requirements despite having a valid expiry date. Both incidents demonstrate how confusion can often be caused by the issue date of a passport rather than its expiry date.

Check your passport before you fly

Check the expiry and issue dates of your passport before you leave for the airport.

It is worth taking a moment to check that your passport meets EU entry requirements. This will help you avoid costly disruptions, missed flights, and the disappointment of having to cancel a holiday.