Brits unaware of rule everyone most follow as soon as they get new passport as gov check ‘you can’t use it until you do’

HOLIDAYMAKERS travelling with a new passport have been urged to make one vital check.

With new rules introduced after Brexit many travellers have been renewing their old passports.

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But as summer approaches and Brits begin jetting off on holiday, the government has urged its residents to check they have signed their passport.

A signature is required to determine the owner of the document and is absolutely essential before boarding a flight.

Tourists wishing to travel must use a "black ballpoint pen" and sign on the holder's signature line.

The government website states: "Sign your new passport as soon as you get it. You can’t use it until you do."

Those aged 11 or under are exempt from this rule, as well as anyone who has been told by HM Passport Office they don't need to sign because of a disability.

In these instances, the passport will show "the holder is not required to sign".

First up - and one of the most important - is checking the start date of your passport.

It is thought that as many as 32 million people still have the old burgundy passports, which means your expiry date might not match your start date.

The new rules no longer allow this, so your expiry date might be 'incorrect' by as much as nine months.

Passports are now only valid for 10 years from the start date - so make sure to check this.

And don't forget to take away a few more months as well, with up to six months left on passports required by a number of countries.

European countries require at least three months left, while Egypt and Thailand require six months.

Brits should also check how much space they have left in their passport.

With European countries now having to stamp passports on entry and exit, it means the pages can quickly fill up.

But some countries require as much as two free pages to be allowed to enter, such as the Bahamas, Cuba and Indonesia.

Just a few countries even need three blank pages, which is Zambia and Madagascar.

Heading to Brunei? You need a whopping six blank pages in your passport.

If you are someone who travels a lot, it might even be worth paying extra for a "larger" passport that has more pages.

Costing £12 extra, the jumbo passports have 54 pages rather than 34 pages.

And finally, check your passport for any damage, even if it seems minor.

Small tears, water damage or pen marks can all render your passport invalid, which will see you stopped at the border.