Passport expirary date

[Irishlad74]

Hi,

My passport expires in the middle of February, Will i be able to fly to Andorra to ski for the new-year (28 Dec to 4 Jan). A friend has just told me that the passport needs to have at least 6 months left in order for me to travel. Is this true, if so any advice??????

Thanks,

Brendan

[DSJ]

This is certainly the case with most countries. Check with your Travel Agent a.s.a.p.

[auntiebertie]

A 17yr old travel agent who could barely pinpoint Andorra on a map is not the best authority as they will without doubt trot out the oft repeated, oft quoted, oft incorrect 6-month rule. Your passport just needs to be valid, so if it expires the day after your return to the UK that is fine.
Source: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/9/pass port_visa/Europe/Andorra.html

[dzug]

It is certainly NOT the case with most countries - very few have this requirement. In the case of all western european countries it just needs to be valid when you arrive.

[jenniferjane]

yes your friend is right your passport needs 6 months after you come back

[dzug]

Evidence please jenniferjane.

[Irishlad74]

Thanks for the replies guys

It would appear strange to have an expirary date on the passport if it "actually" expires 6 months prior to this date.

Just to be on the safe side, i will ring the embassy tomorrow.

[auntiebertie]

JenniferJane is incorrect, and Dzug is correct (again as usual!!) and thanks for backing me up . The OP now seems completely confused if he thinks the passport expires 6 months before it does ........

[tigwig]

I have a question for dzug. If it isn't true that you have to have 6 months left on a passport for certain countries why do they say you have to? When going to Florida I have always been told that is the case. What do you know that we don't?! It doesn't make sense and I'm not trying to say your wrong its just confusing thats all.

[Ethel]

I trust the Times:

As long as your passport is valid through the duration of your stay in the US, you should be fine getting in.

According to the U.S. Embassy in London, the US has an agreement with the UK to automatically extend the validity of a passport for six months past the passport's expiration date. So, as long as you leave before that date, immigration shouldn't be a problem.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/your_s ay/article2093092.ece

Re Andorra - I also trust our Foreign Office:
Passport validity

There is no minimum passport validity requirement for visiting Andorra. You should ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your visit.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living -overseas/travel-advice-by-country/europe/ando rra

[Irishlad74]

UPDATE:

Rang the Andorran Embassey this morning and they confirmed that if you are an EU citizen, you're passport only needs to be valid for the duration of the stay. Outside the EU, there are different restrictions depending on the visa issued. They also said that this applies to all countries in the EU.

Happy days!!!!!

Thanks for all you're replies

Brendan

[dzug]

tigwig - who told you that you need 6 months for Florida?

A travel agent I'll bet. Or someone that had been advised by a travel agent.

The reason that they say 6 months is so that they are never wrong in the wrong direction. Tell a client 6 months and he will never be refused admission anywhere. OK he might unnecessarily renew his passport, but it means they don't have to train their staff to make decisions like country A - 6 months, country B 90 days, country C no minimum validity. Nor do they have to keep up with changes in the rules.

[tigwig]

Yep it was a travel agent dzug. But I have been to Florida several times and always been told this by several travel agents which is why I was confused! I have been told it that much that I thought it was common knowledge that you had to have 6 months left on the passport to go there!
I still don't see why they say that but I do believe you.