DD's passport expires 1 week after return from Majorca

[walkingonthemoon]

is this OK, or am I going to have to renew it?

Where can I find out the rules?

Taa in advance!

As far as I know, you have to have 6 months left on your passport when you arrive home. FIL nearly got caught out with this one recently and had to rush around to get a new passport.

We had a nightmare when we arrived at the airport to go to Tenerife and found DS1's passport had expired the previous month.... However, Spain is the only country that will allow UK citizens in for the 6 months in AFTER yr passport has expired so we got to go. This was back in March 2008 but you may find the same agreement between Spain & UK is in existence. I'd check both UK and Spanish border control websites, but we found out from the very nice lady at the Monarch check in desk at Gatwick!

We were informed that ds's passport had actually expired the monthe before when we were returning from holiday last year.

mmmm... no consensus then so far.... confusing! Anyone else?

As far as I am aware you can use your passport up to the expiry date when you travel to Spain but the best thing to do is to contact the Spanish consulate and ask them, that will you will know for sure.

They generally advise 6 months validity. Worth renewing, as they add the spare 6 months on to the new one (well, certainly on adult passports), so you have a 5 1/2 year passport.

We have a similar situation with DS's passport - he goes to Switzerland with the Scouts this July, and has less than a month left on it when he returns.

I contacted the Swiss Embassy - no response. Then contacted the passport office, who referred me to the Swiss Embassy website , then after telling them I'd already been on it said they "thought" I should be OK, but should check with my airline. They are going with Easyjet (heaven help us) who have so far not picked up their customer service phone, and who have 1 more day to reply to my email (according to their terms and conditions).

It's fair to say that I'm now fairly nervous - so will watch this thread with interest.

They only give you credit for unexpired time if it is the first half of 10 years and you are getting a second five-year passport.

It is a real pest trying to conform to 6 month after expiration myths. It means you are basically getting a passport after 4 years.

Validity after entry usually just applies to visa countries where your passport has to be valid for the total time of a visitor's visa, regardless of your exit date.

No idea, but i once travelled to Majorca on an expired passport. It was my first holiday without my parents and it never entered my head to check it before the day i went. My mum got it out for me while i was still in bed and came running into my bedroom screaming that it was out of date. The airport sent a telex to spain to ask if i could travel but by the time it was time to board they hadn't replied so let me go anyway saying all they'd do at that end would be to send me back. My mum was in a right state as i was going through the gate to get on the plane

That was a long time ago though (think i was 17 so 12ish yr ago) before all the added security etc. Not sure they wave everyone through now without checking passports.

see this page

There is no minimum passport validity for Spain, you'll be fine.

I have travelled throughout the EU with very little left on my passport at various times (personal best is just three days in Germany). It will not be a problem.

Very different rules for long haul where the 6 month rules will apply (especially US).

Have finally heard back from the Swiss Embassy after emailing them again - apparently having time left on your passport is only applicable to countries which require you to have a visa. Perhaps it will be the same for Spain?