It’s important to make sure you’re aware of new travel rules

People planning to visit Spain, France, Greece, Italy and a number of other countries this summer are being warned to familiarise themselves with certain rules or risk seeing their trips ruined. While going on holiday is an exciting time, it is important to make sure you are prepared and well-informed before you set off.

All EU nations, excluding Ireland and Cyprus, follow Schengen rules. and post-Brexit this means your passport must have a “date of issue” less than 10 years before the date you arrive, and must have an “expiry date” at least three months after the date you plan to leave. If you do not have a valid travel document, you will not be able to enter Germany, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, or Switzerland.

Anyone travelling on a UK passport can visit the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and your passport must be stamped on entry and exit. Experts at VisaGuide say this 90/180 rule can often be overcomplicated, meaning visitors can be unclear as to whether they’ve spent their 90 days in the Schengen Area or not.

If you arrive at the airport and don’t have enough days left, you won’t be allowed to enter the country. And if you miscalculate and overstay your 90 days, you could be fined, deported, or even banned from the nation for several years.

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VisaGuide is now urging people to use its Schengen Calculator, which will handily work out your remaining days for you. It also provides the final date you’re allowed to remain in the Schengen Area until.