Why does this new passport fuss seem all Greek to me?

Q My British passport was issued on 14 January 2010. It expires on 14 June 2020. We are booked to travel to Greece on 14 August 2019. When I went through the government’s online passport checking service, it said I will need to apply for a new passport. I’m confused. Could it be the expiry date on my passport is incorrect? I hope you can help.

Susan C

A The government is stepping up its campaign to try to ensure that travellers are not barred from flights, ferries and trains to the remaining European Union countries in the event of a no-deal Brexit. But unfortunately it is trotting out one simple message: “You should have at least six months left on your passport from your date of arrival.”

In fact the rules are more nuanced, because of the unfortunate clash of two unusual policies. The European Union regards any non-EU passport as expiring 10 years after its issue date. British passports issued over the past couple of decades are typically valid for 10 year and several months – because unexpired time for renewals is credited. Yours is typical, being valid for 10 years, five months. For as long as the UK remains in the European Union, and under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, it is valid for travel up to and including the expiry date printed on it.

But were there to be a no-deal Brexit, the EU will immediately regard it as expiring on 14 January 2020. Add to this the UK government’s recommendation that you have six months remaining, and you will need a new passport. That is the conclusion reached by the online service to assess your travel document (for which I have created a simple short link, bit.ly/PassportCheck).

Fortunately, since you have six months before you travel, you can afford to wait and see what transpires with the unholy muddle of Brexit.

Every day our travel correspondent Simon Calder tackles a reader’s question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder