Travelling to Spain

[Spunkypup]

How long do I need on my passport to travel to the Canary Islands?! Bearing in mind they are outside the EU

[NiceCupOfTea]

Ring the Passport Office helpline on 0870 521 0410.

I'm off to Switzerland in December, and my man's passport runs out in March, but he's still OK to travel (Switzerland is also outside of the EU).

[delboy3]

Bearing in mind that the Canary Islands are NOT outside the EU! They do have a duty free allowance, though, unlike the rest of the EU.

The rule of thumb on passports is 3 to 6 months after your departure (from the Canaries).

[SteveD]

"As a part of Spain, the Canaries are also part of the European Union. However, the islands enjoy some exceptions in the fiscal and economic area."

The above is from this site:

http://www.lowtax.net/lowtax/html/offon/spain/spncan.html

[jrtv]

If you ring the Spanish Embassy in Manchester or London they will tell you all you need to know ( in English )

[Bob A Job]

Speaking from someone who lives in the canaries and travels to and fro, they hardly ever do more than glance at passports an arrival and departure. Its normally the British end that are the fussy ones.

What island are you going to?

[dzug]

I understand that Spain (and only Spain - not other EU countries) will accept a British passport that is up to 12 months out of date.

However your airline (who will look at it more closely than most immigation officials) may have a more restrictive policy - they may insist it hasn't expired!