To be upset for these families turned back at the airport

[TarasHarp55]

I've just read about another family turned back at the airport because some of the passports weren't valid anymore. I know it's their fault that they hadn't realised they now needed six months more than their expiry but hell we're all human we make mistakes.

This was a family with little children all excited for their holiday, months of saving and preparation. I'd have been tempted to turn a blind eye. I don't think I could bear to refuse them., and hopefully not get into trouble for it. Anyone else feel like this?

I'd have been tempted to turn a blind eye

That's really not how border control works. If they had not been turned away, they would have been refused entry on arrival and sent back on the next plan, at their own expense.

Also not a great star to a holiday.

Yes I feel sorry for people who have made this error, particularly parents having to tell their children who are bursting with excitement about going on holiday on an aeroplane! that it's not happening.

I don't suppose passport control enjoy delivering this news either.

Surprised how many people have "zero sympathy". Are you made of stone?

Brexit has been in the almost news incessently for 6 years. You'd think people would have looked into how they may be affected by it by now.

I mean, it's pretty complicated. I had to read this 3 times to get it. And I'm still not sure I do...I'm not surprised people are getting it wrong.

@amylou8 I am being ultra thick here but just checking - my passport expires exactly 10 years after the issue date April 2013 to April 2023 so for EU travel it will not be valid after January 2023 and international travel after October 2022 is that correct?

Husbands has a month difference between the issue date and the expiry date so just ignore the extra month and go 10 years from the issue date?

the 10 year validity from issue date is international standard that the eu tolerated as long as uk was part of it.

but, of course, being sorry for those families is a normal thing. maybe they tried to renew and didn't get their passports in time and decided to try anyway.

And then you have some sort of travel disruption e.g. the volcano in 2010 which disrupted flights for a couple of weeks, or strike action, or you have an accident and can't travel home for a number of weeks, and then you'd have to be travelling without valid legal documentation. It's just about having a contingency.

It’s not her fault she can’t let them with expired passports it’s the parents for not sorting it out. Even I know about the 6 months and it’s none of my business as Iv got 8 years left on mine but it’s just common knowledge that everyone with a passport should know.

The passport office have been contacting people

Yep, that's the issue - if you renewed your passport early (e.g I renewed mine about 4 months before the last one expired) they did the expiry date as it would have been if I'd renewed on time so it was valid for 10 years and 4 months. Now they will only accept the true expiry date (so 10 years from the start date) and I need to have travelled back 3/6 months (depending on where I'm going) before that date

You can’t just turn a blind eye, everyone knows or should, travel insurance should be a legal requirement, as should bookings on planes if you want to sit together.
most plan hols in advance

the 10 year validity from issue date is international standard that the eu tolerated as long as uk was part of it.

but, of course, being sorry for those families is a normal thing. maybe they tried to renew and didn't get their passports in time and decided to try anyway.

back in the 90s I yravelled on expired docs when I forgot to renew. checks seemed a bit more lax those days.

Its not an international standard. Its the EU that's asking for no more than 10 years. Other countries don't specify this 10 year rule or that you need months remaining

I mean Some other countries rather than all other countries btw

@CassandraCross No. Certain countries have different rules.

The USA has a bi-lateral agreement with the UK so your passport would be valid until the day it expired, not Oct 2022.

For certain nationalities, the passport or other travel document must be valid for at least six months beyond the proposed stay in the United States. The six-month requirement does not apply to United Kingdom passports.
If you will be applying for a visa using a passport of a different nationality, please click here to find out if the validity requirement applies.
If you are traveling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program and your passport is not valid for 90 days, you will be admitted until the date on which the passport expires.

As someone said, why so complicated. The expiry should be the date on the passport with perhaps a month extra. Then we wouldn't be getting this awful confusion.

I think this should be flagged up when you book your holiday. I think you should have to give passport details at the time of booking your hols. I'm not sure how people seem to forget but it does seem common people sensing passports off last minute.

I feel sorry for the children but not the adults.

I've booked four trips with three different airlines this year, and Skyscanner, the airlines, the booking emails and reminder emails ALL highlight this.

You really do have to be hard of thinking to miss it.

I thought this was going to be about Ukrainians.
But no, not particularly. I probably would have felt a bit sorry for them had I actually seen them myself, but on principle, no.

It's your fault, if you hadn't gone for Brexit, there wouldn't be this problem.

It's a stupid rule, absolutely ridiculous - I understand countries might want a month on there in case of emergency but 6 months in unnecessary. I mean have you ever heard of anyone having to over stay by a month, let alone six? It's just BS.

In other equally ridiculous bureaucracy my OH's Spanish ID card wasn't any use in Spain because it had less than six months on it. He had previously got it in Spain (is Spanish) but couldn't use it in the Spanish bank or for anything legal as it had less than six months on it. What a fucking joke.

That's how it is though?! Surely it's common sense to check before you travel.

Thanks @PrincessPaws I think I've got it! So mine is fine to read as it is as the dates are exactly 10 years apart, husbands take 10 years from the issue date not the expiry date.

Are they still adding on extra months if you renew early?

I don't think the rules are clear at all and there are stories of people being turned away wrongly.

As I understand it. My passport must be under 10 years old on the day I enter the EU and it must be valid for 3 months after that (for France as an example). What isn't clear is what valid means (expiry or 10 years) . Information online is confusing, seems to vary by country/airline