Brits urged to check passports for blank pages before travel

When going on holiday, there are not many items more important than a passport.

And while it is crucial to ensure it is in date and good condition, it is also vital that you have two blank pages.

Experts have urged holidaymakers to ensure their passport has this beforehand and warned that they could be refused entry if not.

What are blank pages in a passport for?

A standard British passport has 34 blank pages, which are required for immigration officials to place entry/exit stamps when coming and leaving a country.

Blank pages are also used for affixing visa stickers that are required by many countries.

If you travel regularly, these can get filled up quickly, and most countries require two, sometimes more, empty pages.

Experts have warned Brits of the consequences if passports do not have enough space.

Brits urged to check passports for blank pages before travel

Laura Evans-Fisk is the head of digital and engagement at foreign exchange company Eurochange.

She said: “It’s common knowledge that you need to check the date on your passport before travelling, but a lot of people don’t realise you also need to check how many blank pages are left. 

“In fact, some countries require travellers to have two to four blank visa or stamp pages in their passports before travelling. 

“African countries, including South Africa and Kenya, Asian countries, including Indonesia, India and Thailand, and European/Schengen countries all require at least 2 blank pages. In Namibia, it is required to have up to six blank pages.

“It’s really important to check the number of pages a few months before you travel. If you leave it until you arrive at immigration, you can be denied entry into the country and airlines may refuse boarding if you don’t meet the entry destination’s requirements.”

Travel expert Gavin Lapidus, Director of eShores, described blank pages as often being “overlooked” but said they are “just as important as expiry dates or passport damage”.

He added: “A passport is your gateway to the world, and even small issues such as too few blank pages or minor damage can result in complications at airport check-in desks.

“Even when a traveller might technically be admitted on arrival, airlines can still refuse boarding if the passport doesn’t meet the stated requirements.”

What to do if your passport doesn’t have enough blank pages

If you are due to travel and do not have enough blank pages needed, the experts have given some advice.

Passports are stamped by border control when entering or leaving a country (Image: Getty Images)

Ms Evans-Fisk said: “If you travel frequently, consider getting a new passport well before it becomes completely full.

“If you are travelling within two to three weeks and don’t have enough blank pages, you can use government-sanctioned fast-track services to get a new passport quickly.

“If you’re already abroad and realise you’re out of pages, contact your nearest embassy to request an emergency travel document.”

Sarah Rodrigues, a travel expert working with Avanti Travel Insurance, said that another option is considering a jumbo passport, or, for some, getting two passports.

She said: “For frequent holidaymakers, it’s worth considering the UK jumbo passport.

“With 54 pages, it offers significantly more space over the standard 10-year validity period. 

“While it costs £13 more than the standard passport, the application process is exactly the same.  

“Another lesser-known option for UK citizens is that they can legally hold two passports at the same time, if they meet certain criteria.

“This is typically granted to frequent travellers or for those needing multiple visas.  

“If your passport is filling up, plan ahead and apply early to help you avoid last-minute travel disruptions.”

Are passports still being stamped with the new EU Entry/Exit system?

The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is a digital, automated system that launched last October and replaces manual passport stamping.

It requires biometric registration (fingerprints and photo) at kiosks upon entry, with full operation expected by April this year.

However, experts warn that ensuring you have blank pages when travelling across other parts of the world remains crucial.

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Mr Lapidus said: “The EU’s new digital EES will start replacing physical passport stamping across Europe, reducing page use within the EU.

“However, this does not affect requirements in the rest of the world, where paper stamps and visa stickers remain standard.

“Airlines and border officials continue to check page availability as part of normal entry procedures.”

How many different countries have you visited in recent years? Let us know in the comments.