Passport soon to expire...can I still travel??
 

Hope you don't mind me posing this question here, I can't seem to find the answer on-line.

I'm due to travel on one of these fangled "jet planes" in July, and I've just noticed that my passport expires in December.

I'm off to Germany for a couple of days, travelling from the UK. I seem to remember some sort of rule if there was less than 6months remaining on your passport.

I haven't got any other credible photo id.

cheers, ginge

British passport?

I was going to check in Timatic but the link is down at the moment, I'm 99% sure that you won't have a problem, if there is a validity requirement for travel within the EU it is probably 3 months, not 6, and I am not even sure if there is one.

gingernut,

You have plenty of spare time in your passport if you don't have to renew it until December and are flying in July. Even travelling to countries like Nigeria and Angola only requires a passport to have three or four weeks leeway (plus a visa, of course).

Have a good trip.

Thanks, it is a British Passport.

Can confirm that is the case. Applied right on the edge of the 6 months (the Russians are a bit sniffy about the six months validity, so it is worth my while) and was prepared to lose that time). New passport arrived with the expiry ten year from expiry of expiring passport. It also arrived two days after posting the application, which suggests there has been a sea change in how the Passport Office operate.

I've been to Newport a couple of times for passport renewal and replacement. 1100 hrs appointment, arrive at 1055, seen at 1100, leave at 1105, return 1500 to pick up passport. I waited longer to be served in the pub than I did at the Passport Office!

The US can be sticky on the 6 months. Germany should be OK.

The worst you might get is a reminder from an immigrations official that you haven't got much validity left on your passport - happened to me even with five months to go.....

Singapore requires six months. Might get away with a week or two over if traveling on a quality country passport, don't expect any leeway with a poor country's travel document.

Thanks for the answer's, don't really want to renew at this moment, mainly because I can't take the risk of a loss in the system, (although I accept that this is unlikely.):)

Germany is 100%, I don't have a European passport and I went through with < 60 days. The BGP did gently bring this to my attention, noted and resolved upon my return.

I didn't get a bloody refund for the time I didn't use my old passport, though, did I? :}

SO

It's not th eloss - it's the delay! Remember the immutable law:-

1. If you need your passport soon, then there will be a delay.
2. If youdo not need your passport soon, it will be processed very fast.

:p

PAXboy

well spotted. I sent my Aus passport in on the Thursday before the Bank Holiday. On the Friday, I withdrew from my trip next week. Passport arrived Wednesday, 0830.

And yes, I had paid the £47 priority fee. :{

SO

one thing to take into consideration is who you are flying with, and their terms and conditions.
a passport with less than 6 months to expiry will get you through passport control in germany, but it may not get you on the plane in the uk.
different carriers have different rules as to what they will accept, and arguing logic with gate staff is not normally very productive.

check your carriers rules before you book.

Have just returned from Spain to the UK with less than 40 days validity on my Danish passport.

UK passport control did not make any noises going out or coming in and in Spain....:rolleyes:

Mrs PN applied for a passport 8 months in advance. Passport was returned withon 48 hours of posting and before the cheque was presented.

NB re pictures:
My wife's passport photographs were rejected because the backing cream curtain had a couple of folds in it. Requirement is for PLAIN off-white, grey or cream. Funny old thing, daughter's photos with folds in curtain were accepted OK.
Baby grand-daughter's photos remarked upon because background was 'too white'.

The 'passport police' can be very picky.

Basil, where were the photos taken?

Miss PN (as was) had great difficulty getting a photo of a 3 month old baby. I think his passport is just coming up for renewal at 5 and oddly there is only one similarity between then and now - skin colour. They really do need a very simple baby passport and a proper one from, say, age 2 or 3.

Mrs PN's was taken at a professional studio. At least that way, if rejected, you can keep returning until they get it right.

BTW, why do you then need to send a photo to DVLA every 10 years too?

PN,
I do all our passport and DL photos myself and that was the only rejection, not for quality but due to background. It had been taken a year earlier for a DL for which it was accepted.
As I said to Mrs B, "How did they know you look a year older now?" :E

I didn't take baby grand-daughter's photos. I guess the requirement to have no-one else in frame is a bit tricky with a wriggly baby :p

I'd guess partly because of ageing but mostly as a nice little earner for Gummint.

Basil, DVLA, I meant when the system already has a passport mug shot.

I did my own pic last time, before the new rules, and was able to remove a spot :) Not now I fear.

As for looking a year older, for 3 successive passports I wore the same suit, shirt and tie. They never commented. I eventually got rid of the suit and Mrs PN got rid of the shirt. I still have the tie.:}