Help! Travelling Monday - Passport Expiry.

[invisiblebark]

Planned a day trip to Europe on Monday to go to a Xmas Market.

One of the kids passports expires on 16th January.

Will he be refused entry??

I believe you need at least 3 months left on the passport?

Yep this. ^ I have never 'got' this when I read a thread like this on Mumsnet. (They come up quite often!)

I have also never known this happen in real life. People booking a holiday, and then 'suddenly discovering' their passport is out of date just a few days before they leave.

Literally never known anyone do this - in real life!

I should have specified that I was assuming a UK passport holder here and been more clear about what I was referring to.

In order to be granted entry the EU requires UK passport holders to have a passport that expires more than 3 months after their planned departure (usually with scheduled transport in place). They also have their own security rules about booking and boarding flights with travel documents that are about to expire. But the UK allows re-entry using a UK passport up to the date that passport expires - the expiration date is based on when the issuing country deems that document valid, not based on the independently set regulations of other countries. And the main point is that countries set these rules for foreign travelers with the goal of ensuring they leave well before their passports expire; that’s the reason you can’t enter a country on an about-to-expire document.

Other kids are 6, 14, 16 and 20.

I checked the six year olds because that's the only one I have because he's mine. (Didn't need to check though - knew his was fine.)

The rest of the passports are with the kids at their DM's house.

It was only booked a week ago today, so very last minute and also my step kids got their first ever passports at the beginning of this year as we took them on holiday in August. So I just assumed they were all fine as they only got them this year. (I'd forgotten that the 18 year old was the only one who had an existing passport because of a school trip many years ago!)

@Mademetoxic living up to her name I see.

Surely the reason passport offices have specific 1-day and 1-week premium options available and very specific instruction pages to help direct people in this situation is because this is a regular occurrence in the real world?

Sorry, if you were going away with adults would you check with every single one of them if their passport was valid before booking? I sure wouldn't.

Yes. I often arrange holidays for groups of friends and ask them to send photos of their passports if I don’t already have them. Usually you have to enter the details on the airlines computer system.

Obviously OP wasn’t travelling by air but I still would have asked. My job involves having to be super organised like this so it’s automatic probably!!

This option was probably created for people who suddenly need to travel abroad in an emergency, (and they discover their passport has expired!)

I doubt very much that it was set up for people who couldn't be bothered to check the end date of their passport before booking a family holiday. 🙄

(I mean clearly people DO use it for that reason sometimes, but I doubt it was set up for that reason!)

Actually no. There’s an entirely separate service for people who need to travel for things like medical emergencies and deaths.

https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently

Yeah you DO usually have to present passport details when you book - so, (as I said earlier,) I can't figure out how so many people (on MUMSNET) seem to book holidays, and then discover their passport is out of date just a few DAYS before the holiday.

You dont need passport details to book a holiday. You only need them when inputting API at a later date

I bet it wasn't ORIGINALLY set up for people who CBA to check if their passport was in date when they booked their holiday though! It's just for people who want to travel very soon - and need a passport quickly.

That link doesn't say that the fast track is for that. Nowhere does it say 'for people who didn't have the foresight to check their passport end date!!!'

Depending on how complicated it would be to leave him on his own in Folkestone for the day if he is denied entry, you could also consider just going along and hoping they either don't notice or take pity on him/you. The new automatic EU system (EES) isn't working yet and the officers with stamps process a lot of passports. So I think that it's not guaranteed that they will deny him entry, especially if you show day return tickets. You would obviously need a solid plan B in case if they do say no, of course.

You’re right. They do not spell out that (or any) very specific reason why someone might need to renew a passport with a day’s notice yet not qualify for the existing emergency options available for people needing to travel for unforeseen events like illness and death. I’m sure they were really only thinking of all the people booking international holidays a day or two out.

No you don't, not if you have a British passport.

OP, I'm sorry you've had such sneery answers on your thread. Have a good time on Monday, and lesson learnt!

Unless hes a legal resident of an eu country he wont be allowed to travel.

Why is his mum responsible for your travel arrangements? Surely you entered all the details on the bookimg form when you booked?

Gosh what a shame, but good he’s being so mature about it, Op.

I am old enough to remember the rules being much laxer. I did once forget my passport when flying with work, luckily my work photo ID was accepted by the airport as the rules just required a photo id for a UK flight. Even for a domestic flight I’m not sure one would get away with that now!

I'm sorry some people are being so bitchy. Have a great time, and bring the lad back a nice present

It means it's easier to get shot of people if they overstay. Standard on-entry permission (no advance visa required) is often either 3 or 6 months, so countries want your passport still to be valid at the end of that time.