Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland Set New Passport Rules for Tourists to Ensure Seamless Travel Across Schengen and Europe: What You Need to Know

Published on April 12, 2025

In a bid to streamline border entry and enhance the efficiency of travel across the Schengen Area, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland have introduced new passport rules for tourists. These measures aim to ensure that travelers are fully prepared and compliant with entry requirements, reducing delays and preventing denied access at immigration checkpoints. To avoid disruptions during your travels, it’s crucial to meet these updated criteria before planning your visit to these popular European destinations.

Traveling to Europe requires meeting strict passport criteria to ensure smooth entry into the Schengen Area and beyond. Tourists planning to visit popular destinations such as Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland must meet two crucial passport requirements to avoid being denied entry:

1. Passport Issue Date: Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years from the date of your arrival in these countries. Passports issued before October 1, 2018, may not meet this requirement and could result in denied entry.
2. Passport Validity: Your passport must have at least three months of validity remaining beyond your planned departure date. Without this, entry will be refused, as the passport will be considered invalid for travel.

These regulations, applicable to 30 European Union countries including the Schengen Area, are part of a broader effort to streamline travel and ensure that all tourists are adequately prepared for entry. Top European travel destinations, including Spain, France, and Italy, will strictly enforce these rules to maintain smooth travel for all international visitors.

Passport Fees Set to Rise for Tourists

Alongside these new passport regulations, travelers should be aware of rising passport fees. Starting April 10, the fees for passport renewal have increased. Adults will now pay £94.50 for a new passport, up by £6. For children, the standard online application fee has risen to £61.50, an increase of £4.

Postal applications will incur even higher fees, with adult renewals increasing to £107, and children’s passports rising to £74. For those needing a passport urgently, the One Day Premium Service will now cost £222 for adults, and £189 for children—up from the previous rates of £207.50 and £176.50, respectively.

Overseas applications will also see price hikes. Standard online applications for adults from abroad will now cost £108, while for children it will be £70. Paper applications from overseas will be £120.50 for adults and £82.50 for children.

These increased fees, subject to Parliamentary approval, will help cover the costs of processing passport applications, offering consular support abroad, and managing border controls, according to the Home Office.

Plan Ahead to Avoid Travel Disruptions

Tourists are strongly encouraged to renew their passports well in advance to avoid any delays in receiving their travel documents. In 2024, 99.7% of standard passport applications were processed within three weeks, provided no additional information was needed. However, with the rise in fees and new entry requirements, it’s more important than ever to ensure your passport meets the new criteria before planning your trip to any of the Schengen Area countries.

To streamline travel across Europe, these countries have introduced new passport regulations to ensure tourists meet essential entry requirements, minimizing delays and disruptions at border control.

By following these new regulations and planning ahead for passport renewals, tourists can ensure their travel to Europe is hassle-free and in compliance with the latest rules.