Passport less than one month valid for Spain!!! Cancelled whole trip and lost money! Gutted

[Thefirstime]

So gutted

can’t believe I didn’t notice my son’s passport validity was less than a month.. enough for us to travel there and back but not with the 3 months required!!!

supposed to fly on Monday - now having to cancel whole trip no refund.. painful..

I spoke to the embassy and no chance..

so Annoyed with myself.. my son was looking forward to it so much..

The passport e-gates that are currently in place at Spanish airports for arrivals the UK or Ireland are also used by EU travellers entering the Schengen area (for example, Spanish people going back to Spain). They don't beep for "less than three months of validity after the intended date of return", partly because they were designed when the UK was in the EU (they just check that the passport is genuine and that you match the photo) and partly because the machine doesn't know when you intend to return. After you go through this machine you go to a desk to get a stamp, but the officers won't always be looking too closely at your passport because the machine has already done much of the work.

But from 6 October 2024 (barring IT delays), non-EU passport holders will go to new, different machines, which will also take your photo and fingerprints. The machine will then (probably; this is how it works in the US, anyway) print out a ticket that you wave at the immigration officer to show that you've been through all the checks, at which point there is no need to get a stamp as the system will record your entry and exit dates. It's likely that if the passport has between 3 and 6 months validity on it, the machine will print out a ticket with an X on it (this happens to me sometimes when I go to the US) and the officer will then look to see what the machine wants them to check (in this case, that the expiry is at least 3 months after your return ticket).

The border officers have some discretion, and can let you in with or without a fine if your passport is a little bit over the final date. They are unlikely to deport a bona fide tourist because that's a lot of hassle. The problem is going to be much more at the UK end, especially once ETIAS (like the US ESTA) comes in which is planned for May 2025. At that point the computer at check-in or at the gate will know your passport's details and you are much more likely to be denied boarding.

@samarrange

Thought your post on how to avoid detection at the UK end was interesting but of course if Spanish immigration do call foul and deny entry there could be consequences or at least some blow back for the check-in or gate staff at the UK end…depends on the culture at the airline.

You have nothing to lose by turning up and trying

Explain to your son that it might not be possible to go, prepare him in advance for it just in case. Have a back up plan first the day in the event you can't go, something he might enjoy like the zoo or softplay or whatever to soften the blow

It’s 6 months validity now but goes by date of issue rather than date of expiry.

No it isn't
For Europe you need 3 months remaining from the date you leave the EU.

• When you enter the EU your passport needs to be under 10 years old (look at the issue date and add 10 years, if your passport has extra months added)

• when you leave the EU your passport needs 3 months remaining (look at the expiry date)

wohm there's nothing smart about it, it's incredibly easy to check when passports expire. I don't even go abroad and I know when our passports will expire and look at them a couple of times a year to make sure I renew in time. (The dc's have been away with school a couple of times).

This whole thing annoys me. What's the point of an expiry date if it actually means months before?

It's a pain in the arse. My friend got turned away at check-in because of the "from issue date" rules.

It’s 6 for Spain. They wouldn’t allow us last year. I had more than 6 months until expiry but three based on issue.

Samarrange my passport is always checked and more often than not I'm asked about my visit.
Though to be fair it might be because I'm in and out so often so have many entry and re-entry stamps.
But IME it's usually more than a cursory glance at my passport.
Often the passport officer will scan my passport again, even though I've been through the scanner.

It's not 6 months for Spain

It's not. It's 3 months as it is for other EU countries.

OP, I think I'd chance it, but explain to DS that there might be a chance you can't go. At this stage you've got nothing to lose.

I guess the possibility of consequences for the staff at the UK end is between the OP and her conscience. I don't think it would be the factor that would stop me from trying it.

I can’t see what you’ve got to lose by at least trying

Here is the actual text of the actual EU regulation, showing that @dementedpixie and @JoJothegerbil are correct. Whether or not a clueless official or airline check-in person knew about the rules when you were travelling is a different question.

You can also find exactly the same conditions on the UK government's web site at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements.

There was an unfortunate period of about 8-9 months after Brexit where even the UK government site got it wrong, but this has now been fixed and all of the airlines should be applying the rules correctly.

So to be exact my son’s passport has 3 DAYS validity from when we would arrive back home
:/

shocking I know.. I think I would be far too stressed and worried to try!

if there was a fine the other end, how much could we incur?

we are due to fly with BA and I know they do scrutinise passports and passengers.. we could try risk it, lose cab money to the airport and plead my case..

i can’t believe i did this!! Would I be breaking the law if I did travel with the passport so close to expiry??

i’m aware we have not much to loose just the inconvenience and disappointment for son..

I agree the timelines don’t quite make sense!! Expiry date is when it should be unusable!! Not 3 or 6 months validity

Spain is 3 months I checked with embassy..

Also does anyone know WHY the validity on a passport is relevant??

shame he couldn’t travel on mine!!

Really not worth it. If one of your party got a tummy bug or conformed Covid case a couple of days wouldn't be enough.
Then you'd be battling to get leave to remain.
Not worth it , because maybe you'd get a fine but at the worst end you'll not be able to enter any where within Schengen areas for a limited time.

@drivinmecrazy

yes that’s what I thought - thank you

Can you swap the flights to a non EU country that doesn't have the 3 month rule?

..because those are the rules for non EU passport holders and we voted to become a non EU country, knowing those were the rules but
Boris said "nothing will change" con man.

I put expiry dates on a bit of masking tape and attach to passports, so i can see at a glance the dates.

The thing is though expiry dates and the additional bit do make sense, if we need to have an expiry date - why can't we just update the photo every X years?
My University lecturer broke her back in Italy and couldn't be transported for several weeks / possibly months I cant quite remember (at the time I was annoyed at paying out £££ in student fees for no lecturer). If something similar happens and you exceeded a final final expiry date you'd be stuffed.

Yet another benefit of 17 million voting for Brexit.

I follow someone on insta who is in Spain this week, realised passport was 7 years out of date and had got through 2 airports with it. worth a try.

@1dayatatime exactly my thoughts