All new passports issued in the UK are dark blue but many Brits will still have the older burgundy cover
Many Brits will still have a burgundy passport (Image: Getty Images)
Going on holiday abroad is ideally meant to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience as you switch off from work and head to the airport. However, poor planning for the trip can often lead to nightmare holidays for families – especially if you don’t stay up to date with the latest travel guidance and advice that could leave you in a difficult situation.
Planning a family vacation means ensuring everyone is all set to go ahead of the travel day and one of the most important things to check is that all passports are in date. British passports have undergone multiple changes over the years, including a new cover colour and added security features.
However, as we enter 2026, those who still have the older burgundy passport may be wondering what this means for them. The first burgundy-coloured machine-readable passports were handed out in 1988 and over 30 years later, in March 2020, the distinctive blue cover was introduced after the UK exited the EU, Liverpool Echo reports.
All new passports given by the UK Government are now dark blue. Advice on Gov.uk says: “If your passport is burgundy or has ‘ European Union ‘ on the cover, you can still use it as long as it’s valid for travel.”
Regardless of the colour of your passport, you must renew it before it has expired or if you do not have enough time left on it. If your passport has been stolen or lost, you must cancel it before applying for a replacement.
To enter countries within the EU now, Brits boarding flights must have a UK passport that has been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the EU country. The document must also be valid for at least three months after the day you leave the EU country.
This means that those with passports issued before September 2018 may be caught out by this rule.
This is due to the previous practice of the passport office adding up to nine months of validity from an old passport to a new one. However, this policy ended in 2020 post-Brexit.
If your passport does not meet the minimum requirements, you will be refused entry to the country.
For those who require a new passport, HM Passport Office guidance states that standard applications take approximately three weeks.
However, it may take longer than three weeks if further information is required from you or an interview has been scheduled.
Paper passport application forms can be picked up from local Post Offices and sent away by post. However, it’s important to note that it takes longer to apply by post than online.
Passports issued this month now have a revamped design bearing His Majesty King Charles III’s Coat of Arms.
In addition to being physically different to the previous passports, the latest releases will also incorporate the latest anti-forgery technology, making it the most secure British passport in history.
Passports with the Coat of Arms of Queen Elizabeth II on the covers will remain valid until the expiry date.
