Passport Validity
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3
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From: London
Passport Validity
To any airline staff out there. I am panicking...booked a last minute holiday to Turkey next week. Blurb says passport should be valid for 6 months after return to UK. Mine expires end of October
Checked with UKPA and Turkish travel office in London. Passport valid - shouldn't be a ptoblem. Then hear tales of airlines bumping passengers because passport less than 6 months to run. What are my chances? Thanks
Checked with UKPA and Turkish travel office in London. Passport valid - shouldn't be a ptoblem. Then hear tales of airlines bumping passengers because passport less than 6 months to run. What are my chances? Thanks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Southeast,UK
There is no rule of 6months validity to RETURN to the Country of nationality...ie if you are going out of UK (on UK Passport) then it has to be atleast 6months valid but on your return leg of the journey there is no time condition as long as its not expired!!!Have a nice trip....
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: uk
Here is the extract from the official system we use to check visa requiremnts...
/ 19AUG05 / 2053 UTC
National UNITED KINGDOM (GREAT BRITAIN) (GB)
Embarkation UNITED KINGDOM (GREAT BRITAIN) (GB)
Destination TURKEY (TR)
TURKEY (TR)
Passport required.
1. If holding passport endorsed British Overseas Citizen :
visa required.
Visitor must be of clean appearance and hold:
- return/onward tickets; and
- documents for next destination; and
- sufficient funds.
2. In all other cases:
visa required, which can be obtained on arrival for a max.
stay of 3 months with multiple entries. Fee: GBP 10.-.
Visitor must be of clean appearance and hold sufficient
funds.
In all cases:
Visitor must report to Immigration Police if exceeding period
of allowed stay.
Visitor is considered a Turkish national, if it appears from
documents that original nationality was Turkish and should be
advised to make inquiries about possible consequences prior
to arrival in Turkey.
Visitor holding travel documents printed in their own
language and not in the Latin alphabet will be refused
entry and deported.
Minors: upto/incl. 18 years of age may be included in
parent's passport.
Non-compliance with entry regulations will result in the
deportation of passenger, normally by same aircraft on the
same day. Should deportation procedure exceed 24 hours, a
fine of USD 1,000.- will be imposed on the carrier.
/ 19AUG05 / 2053 UTC
National UNITED KINGDOM (GREAT BRITAIN) (GB)
Embarkation UNITED KINGDOM (GREAT BRITAIN) (GB)
Destination TURKEY (TR)
TURKEY (TR)
Passport required.
1. If holding passport endorsed British Overseas Citizen :
visa required.
Visitor must be of clean appearance and hold:
- return/onward tickets; and
- documents for next destination; and
- sufficient funds.
2. In all other cases:
visa required, which can be obtained on arrival for a max.
stay of 3 months with multiple entries. Fee: GBP 10.-.
Visitor must be of clean appearance and hold sufficient
funds.
In all cases:
Visitor must report to Immigration Police if exceeding period
of allowed stay.
Visitor is considered a Turkish national, if it appears from
documents that original nationality was Turkish and should be
advised to make inquiries about possible consequences prior
to arrival in Turkey.
Visitor holding travel documents printed in their own
language and not in the Latin alphabet will be refused
entry and deported.
Minors: upto/incl. 18 years of age may be included in
parent's passport.
Non-compliance with entry regulations will result in the
deportation of passenger, normally by same aircraft on the
same day. Should deportation procedure exceed 24 hours, a
fine of USD 1,000.- will be imposed on the carrier.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 916
Likes: 0
From: Near sheep!
The airline involved may get you to complete a form of Indemnity when you check-in (not worth the paper they are printed on), but other than that you will be fine.
Is the passport in good condition? That come sometimes sway a decision the other way.
Have a good one!
Is the passport in good condition? That come sometimes sway a decision the other way.
Have a good one!
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: London
Thanks for the replies
Dr747
I am unclear concerning the bit about passport needing 6 month validity if going out of the UK. Presumably that is exactly what I will be doing - although I do have a ticket to return a week later.
Do you think it worth my while to see if I can get an urgent new passport before I go?
Dr747
I am unclear concerning the bit about passport needing 6 month validity if going out of the UK. Presumably that is exactly what I will be doing - although I do have a ticket to return a week later.
Do you think it worth my while to see if I can get an urgent new passport before I go?
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Southeast,UK
Yes i think that it will be worth it...I have been to turkey once a few years ago and their immigration is a bit "moody" not that i had much problem with them but they can be a bit of pain in the back side...
and from my experience of travelling to a lot of asian countries..they can be very strict about 6months rule.ie if your passport is not valid for 6 months AT THE TIME of ENTRY then they can legally refuse to allow you to enter...
Once i was stopped in Lahore,Pakistan while coming to london as i was travellin on Belge passport with only 3months validty(I had later learned that british would have not bothered about my validity as i am european!!!) but fortunatly my ID card had 4 years left on it and immigration officer let me board for being a european national....
so i would advice you to be safe then sorry...especially in a strange place!!!!
P.s Best way to be sure is to contact turkish Embbassy in london and ask them this question.and get 100% answer. Don't accept MAY BEs...
and from my experience of travelling to a lot of asian countries..they can be very strict about 6months rule.ie if your passport is not valid for 6 months AT THE TIME of ENTRY then they can legally refuse to allow you to enter...
Once i was stopped in Lahore,Pakistan while coming to london as i was travellin on Belge passport with only 3months validty(I had later learned that british would have not bothered about my validity as i am european!!!) but fortunatly my ID card had 4 years left on it and immigration officer let me board for being a european national....
so i would advice you to be safe then sorry...especially in a strange place!!!!
P.s Best way to be sure is to contact turkish Embbassy in london and ask them this question.and get 100% answer. Don't accept MAY BEs...
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: London
Thanks again.
I contacted the Turkish Embassy/Consulate/Tourist office who did not consider there to be any sort of problem and dismissed me! Nonetheless I will contact the UKPA on Monday and see if they can help - my advice from them previously was that I could travel for as long as my passport was valid . I think all this is really at the hands of the UK travel industry being fearful of having to take responsibility for me (their client) and hence the question - am I at risk of being "bumped" when I arrive at the airport - LGW - next week? First Choice Airways/Airlines (weren't they once Air 2000?).
I contacted the Turkish Embassy/Consulate/Tourist office who did not consider there to be any sort of problem and dismissed me! Nonetheless I will contact the UKPA on Monday and see if they can help - my advice from them previously was that I could travel for as long as my passport was valid . I think all this is really at the hands of the UK travel industry being fearful of having to take responsibility for me (their client) and hence the question - am I at risk of being "bumped" when I arrive at the airport - LGW - next week? First Choice Airways/Airlines (weren't they once Air 2000?).
