PASSPORTS

[fbg40]

Just a quick question concerning travelling abroad and expiration date of passport.
I am under the impression that if you plan to travel abroad, then you need to have at least 6 months left on your passport before it expires - can anbody throw any light on this ?
I have looked on the passport office website but without success.
Many thanks
FBG40

[redcrx]

you need to look at travel details for the country you are planning to visit. EU countries dont usually request a 6 month period.

[ChuckFickens]

Yep as red says, there is no one rule, different countries have different requirements for the time left (a lot don't care if your passport runs out the day after you would leave) and the 6months thing is just a "catch all" to cover all possibilities.

[fbg40]

Thanks for the very quick response - will pass the info on.
FBG40

[KARL]

The issue of months left of passport validity is most likely to arise if there is a work permit involved or some other consideration where you don't otherwise have to leave. For example, if the expiry date is two months away but there is a bilateral agreement between your country that says you can stay three months following your entry, then it is possible that having a passport validity less than that would be a complication. Without a doubt, some countries (and some officials in their system) are more rigorous on this point than others and the correct thing to do is follow the advice already given: Check with the country of destination before you commit yourself to any bookings, etc.

[Buenchico]

Just to strengthen Redcrx's point:
EU countries NEVER place any limit upon the validity of an EU passport. (It would cause an 'international incident' if they did!).

EU citizens have the right to freely enter all EU countries as long as they can prove their citizenship (either by producing a valid national identity card or a valid passport). Since you NEVER have to leave any EU country (because, as an EU citizen, you have the automatic right to live in, and work in, any EU country) it would be nonsensical to have limits on passport validity anyway.

Most other countries (which are popular with UK tourists) also don't place restrictions on the validity of passports when entry is solely for the purpose of tourism (or for visiting family members). Even the USA (which has some of the toughest entry requirements in the world), waives its normal '6 month validity' rule for holders of UK passports.

You state that you've looked at the Passport Office website. Wrong website! The one you require is that of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. You can find the entry requirements (for UK passport holders) of every country in the world listed there:
http://www.fco.gov.uk...el-advice-by-country/

Chris

[spudqueen]

If you've got less than nine months left on your passport then why not just renew it now? You can renew your passport at anytime (you don't have to wait until it expires), but if you renew with 9 months or less remaining on your passport then those months are added to your new passport (which could then be valid for 10 years and 9 months). Saves a lot of hassle.

[spudqueen]

Er, presuming you're British of course, I've just noticed your avatar!

[fbg40]

Thanks again for all the answers.
The passport in question belongs to my Daughter and she is so slow in organising things I thought I would jump the gun for her !
Spudqueen - I am British.
FBG40