British tourists are being warned that they could be turned away at the airport if their passport does not have two blank pages when traveling to 40 countries. While most nations require only one free page, these destinations have stricter rules.
European Union Hotspots Included
The list includes popular European Union holiday destinations such as Italy and Portugal, as well as other European nations like Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Russian Federation, San Marino, and Vatican City.
Destinations Across the Globe
The requirement extends to the Far East, including China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. In Africa, countries such as Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zimbabwe demand two blank pages. South America and the Caribbean nations like Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Jamaica, and Venezuela also enforce this rule.
New UK Passport Design
HM Passport Office began introducing the series D e-Passport from December 2025. All UK passports, regardless of series, remain valid until their expiry date. The series D e-Passport is valid for up to 10 years for adults and 5 years for those under 16. Standard e-Passports contain 34 pages, while Frequent Traveller versions have 54 pages.
The new passport includes advanced security features such as laser engraving and full-colour printing. Portrait images are laser-engraved on both the Title Page and Biographical Data Page, and a colour digital image is printed on the Official Observations page. A digital representation of the bearer's portrait is securely encoded within the passport's electronic chip. The front cover features the Royal Arms of King Charles III embossed in gold foil.
Full List of Countries Requiring Two Blank Pages
Africa: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe.
Europe: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russian Federation, San Marino, Vatican City.
Asia: China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Tajikistan, Thailand, Vietnam.
South America and the Caribbean: Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Jamaica, Venezuela.
