The Foreign Office is advising British citizens to check their passport is stamped as they travel through countries in the European Schengen zone.
There are 26 countries in the Schengen area, which enables free movement of people and covers most European Union countries, except Ireland.
The rules for British travellers changed when the UK left the EU on January 1, 2021, so they can only travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.
FCDO travel advice is now being updated for visitors heading to the 26 countries in the Schengen zone.
The advice recommends “checking your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area…as a visitor”.
It said: “Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area.
“If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit.
“You can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen area, and ask the border guards to add this date and location in your passport. Examples of acceptable evidence include boarding passes and tickets.”
Next year, Brits travelling to the Schengen countries of Europe will have to apply for a visa costing €7 (about £6) when the European Travel Information and Authorisation System comes into force by the end of 2022.
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