The little known passport rule that could stop you at the airport | UK

Going on holiday can sometimes be a headache for travelers with the everchanging airport rules and regulations.

The last thing you need when arriving at 3am to the airport in the pitch black is to be faced with unknown passport regulations that no-one has heard of.

Travel expert and co-director of Cheap Deals Away UK, Dawn Morwood, has revealed the requirements for traveling to certain countries to avoid the last minute airport panic. One of the more unusual requirements is the blank page rule.

In certain countries, including South Africa, Russia and China, they require travelers to have at least two blank pages in their passports for visa stamps. If you’re flying to South Africa, not having the required pages could result in being turned away at the border.

Certain countries such as Malaysia require an entry stamp, and failing to get one could cause complications.

Likewise, travelers in the Schengen Area must ensure their passport is stamped to avoid penalties for overstaying. However, this will be scrapped come November 10 2024, where new biometric methods will be implemented.

“Failing to comply with specific passport rules or guidelines can result in denied boarding or entry at your destination, leaving you frustrated, delayed, or even worse, stranded,” says Ms Morwood.

She added: “Passport rules vary significantly from country to country, and some are even enforcing stringent validity periods or requiring a minimum number of blank pages for entry stamps and visas.”

The travel expert also warned that “many countries, such as Indonesia, Bahrain and Thailand, enforce a six-month passport validity rule from the date of entry”, meaning visitors should check the countries requirements before flying.

Countries like the USA are generally less strict, requiring only that your passport be valid for the length of your stay.

For Visas, Ms Morwood urges flyer’s to check the requirements early.

“This one’s a bit of a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised,” she says.

She added: “Depending on where you go, these can take minutes, hours or weeks to process, so apply early to prevent any last-minute issues.

Urging flyers to put some money aside for visa fees, the travel expert advises “The prices are always changing, but as a rule of thumb, visas to some popular tourist destinations can set you back up to three figures.”

Tourist visas for countries such as India, the United States, and New Zealand costing £127, £119, and £106, respectively.