Greece is known for its breathtaking scenery, beautiful climate, turquoise waters and stretches of white sand beaches.

However, Brits have been warned of a three-month passport rule when visiting a popular European country.

Before going away, you must check if your passport fits the valid requirements. Failure to do so could result in being denied entry, ending your holiday before it even began.

The Foreign Office warns that if you’re planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements.

Passport requirements when visiting Greece:

The Foreign Office warns that if your passport was issued before October 1, 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

If you are travelling to Greece and other Schengen countries without a visa, the UK Government urges Brits to ensure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.

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.

A heatwave is currently engulfing the Mediterranean country with several tourists having died in Greece in recent weeks after temperatures soared above 40C.

In recent weeks, four other holidaymakers have died in Greece including a 55-year-old American and a 74-year-old Dutch tourist, who were found in Mathraki and Samos respectively. Two hikers also lost their lives in Crete.

The Greek Tourism Ministry has urged people to “remain vigilant” as the extreme heat continues to grip the country, adding it was working with other ministries to ensure travellers were being kept informed.

Meteorologist Panos Giannopoulos told the Greek state television channel, ERT: “This heatwave will go down in history. In the 20th century, we never had a heatwave before June 19. We have had several in the 21st century, but none before June 15.”