Where can you go on holiday with 3 months validity on passport? What about transiting...

[polka62]

Looking to getaway on a longhaul trip but one of us has a passport expiring 3 months after the proposed return date. We were thinking Southeast Asia but that would require transitting/catching a connecting flight in the middle east, is this allowed? Or do we need to go the other way so its a direct flight? Eg. Caribbean.

Who do we call for confirmation before booking? Should say passport was issued over 10 years ago, where do I check rules around that? cant find it on gov uk (so passport issued around 10yr 3months from trip with 3 months of validity left)

Thanks!

Issued over 10 years ago
only 3months remaining now ie less when you actually travel

no where Op. no where

Agree with PP, you will need to get a new passport

Sorry just checked - passport issued 20th May 2013, expiring 20th Aug 2023. We are looking to getaway first 2 weeks of May.

So would be just within 10yrs and just over 3 month validity left. Do we have any options?

Passports now expire exactly 10 years after issue. It will expire in May, not August. They need a new passport. It isn't taking long these days to renew a passport.

Yes you don’t get the extra months that we’re added on now. Expiry is 10 years after issue date

You need to renew.
I renewed in January and it only took 2 weeks standard service.

@RampantIvy @Costacoffeeplease Could I please ask how you know this? So I can forward it on. Its a small group trip (3 of us) and the only time everyone can make. I think waiting for a new passport even if it comes in time is too risky for a trip so soon and prices will be extortionate.

Apparently Mexico, Bahamas and Maldives are options as just need validity for the duration of stay. Not sure how it works for transitting?

Even if you intended to travel today - you couldn’t.

You should be working backwards from may

and no where is 3 months in any event

It is very very straightforward to find out op

you go on the foreign office websites for these countries and they will clarify their rules

Or just check our FO website

I literally spent a second searching Maldives

Passport validityIf entering Maldives as a tourist, you will be granted a 30-day visa upon arrival and your passport must be valid for a minimum of one month. However, if arriving by air, most airlines state that your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into the Maldives. Check with your transport provider or tour operator before travelling. You should ensure your passport has no damage or you may be stopped by Immigration, who examine passports carefully.
Visas**

Passport validityYou must hold a valid passport to enter The Bahamas. Your passport should be valid for six months from the date of departure from The Bahamas.

it is very straightforward to find out op 😐

Agree with all PP. My passport was issued ten years ago in May 2013 (when I got married) even though the expiry is Feb 2024 and I basically can’t go anywhere until I sort it (possibly Ireland though but don’t quote me!)

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/02/20/post-brexit-travel-uk-passport-holders-warned-to-urgently-check-expiry-date-after-rule-cha

a quick Google gives this

@Ursualesther Thank you. Looks like we'd be okay for Barbados?
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/barbados/entry-requirements

@Costacoffeeplease Thank you, according to that Japan, Mexico and Australia are also options. I dont think we could get direct flights to these however, any idea how to find out about connecting flights/transitting somewhere with a soon to expire passport?

Barbados ok

But I would feel nervous myself. Good luck!

Why don’t you just pay for premium passport service?

As mentioned multiple times, your passport expires 10 years after issue, so May. It's been very highly publicised for some time now.

You would need to go before expiry op

please say you have grasped that now

So you need to be back in Uk in about 7/8 weeks time

Don't risk it OP. If you get stuck in Barbados for any reason (cancelled flight, illness, injury) and your passport expires you will have an absolute struggle to get a new passport away from home.
Just get your passport renewed, you can do it online very quickly, pay for the fast service. Even with the strikes you'll be fine.

The over ten years old rule only applies to the EU.

The 6-month validity rule applies to most long haul destinations. I flew to Thailand in Feb - my passport expired end of Feb 2024, but my passport was ten years old at end of May 2023. In thailand they looked only at the expiry date, not the issue date.

Mauritius? Only has to be valid for up till the date of departure

To clarify, this isn't for myself (although mine does expire in a year so will get mine renewed after this trip). It's the only time that everyone can make and too risky to apply for a new passport given we're looking to go in about 3.5 weeks time. The passport will be WITHIN 10 years of issue (just, issued May 2013). Expiring August 2023 is what it states on the passport.

So far the list I've got is: Barbados, Mauritius, Seychelles, St Lucia, Argentina and Jamaica. Any others? So I think if we book direct flights we should be ok? Still not sure about non direct flights / having to transit.

Lots of wrong advice here.

For the EU only, your passport has to be valid within 10 years from date of issue upon entry into the EU.

Passports do not expire 10 years after issue. The 10 year rule has fuck all to do with the expiry date, the expiry is as per your passport. They are 2 separate rules. So you can stay in the EU on a passport issued more than 10 years ago as long as you entered before 10 years and you have at least 3 months left.

Decide then flight routing you want to take, then Google transit requirements for the stopover to see if it’s doable. For example staying in Dubai requires 6 months left but transiting passengers only need 3 months.