Passport Expiry Date

[cookie334]

I'm sure I read somewhere that you need so long left on your passport when you arrive in France. Does anyone know how long it is? I thought I'd read 6 months, but I'm not sure if I've imagined this or not :rotfl: Need to know if we need to renew our passports for our trip in January, really hope not as it's soooooo expensive now :eek:

[ukstitch]

If it's anything, then it's 6 months...

I'm not sure what countries and / or modes of travel it applies to though I'm afraid.

[cookie334]

Thanks a lot. Think we might get away with mine and oh's as they're good till August, but the 2 older kids expire in March so I think I'm gonna have to replace them :headache:

If it's anything, then it's 6 months...

I'm not sure what countries and / or modes of travel it applies to though I'm afraid.

[nightrider68]

According to the attached link, there is no minimum required as long as it is valid for the whole trip.

http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Frequently-Asked-Question.html#sommaire_2

[cookie334]

Thanks Simon

I was getting confused when I was trying to google it because some websites say 3 months and others say so long as your passport is valid for your whole stay.

Does anyone know, if I renew the kids ones just in case, will they be valid for 5 years from the date I renew them, or 5 years from March (when they expire)?

According to the attached link, there is no minimum required as long as it is valid for the whole trip.

http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Frequently-Asked-Question.html#sommaire_2

[Daisy78]

As far as I'm aware you have to have 6mths left on your passport for USA, don't know about anywhere else having restrictions.

[CityBlue]

I had the same problem. I read 3 different facts:

1) As France is an EU country as long as your passport is in date on your return journey then that is all you need.

2) A passport vaild for 3 months after your return date.

3) A passport vaild for 6 months after your return date.

I couldn't really get the "correct" answer from anyone and alot of people said it depends on which airline you are flying with (as we are going by air). So to be on the safe side I got out passports renewed.

I think you can apply for a new passport before your old one runs out and the Passport Office will put the remaining time on your new passport (up to 6 months). So, if your passport runs out in Jan 2009 and you apply now, they will put an extra 5 months on your new passport. I hope this makes sense, I'm not very good at explaining things!!

[cookie334]

I had the same problem. I read 3 different facts:

1) As France is an EU country as long as your passport is in date on your return journey then that is all you need.

2) A passport vaild for 3 months after your return date.

3) A passport vaild for 6 months after your return date.

I couldn't really get the "correct" answer from anyone and alot of people said it depends on which airline you are flying with (as we are going by air). So to be on the safe side I got out passports renewed.

I think you can apply for a new passport before your old one runs out and the Passport Office will put the remaining time on your new passport (up to 6 months). So, if your passport runs out in Jan 2009 and you apply now, they will put an extra 5 months on your new passport. I hope this makes sense, I'm not very good at explaining things!!

That's great, we are flying too, so I think I'll renew the kids ones. Better safe than sorry eh? You'd think it would be a simple enough thing to find out though, I wonder why there are so many conflicting rules :confused:

[silverka2002]

If you renew a passport before it expires you actually get up to 9 months added.

Taken from passport website.

You should apply as early as possible as it is more expensive to fast track an application. We strongly recommend that you do not book any travel before your new passport arrives.

When to renew

You can renew your passport whenever you want and do not have to wait till your passport is expired to renew it.
However, we can add no more than nine months unexpired time from the old passport to the new one.
When renewing, you still need to pay the full fee and no refund can be given for the unexpired time in the old passport
.

[aaronandterri]

you will be ok with march on it, we travelled there last year when the kids only had 5 weeks after our return on theres and no one said anything, but you can get 5 plus 9 months extra added if you renew early.

[cookie334]

If you renew a passport before it expires you actually get up to 9 months added.

Taken from passport website.

Thanks that's great. I think that's what I'll do.

you will be ok with march on it, we travelled there last year when the kids only had 5 weeks after our return on theres and no one said anything, but you can get 5 plus 9 months extra added if you renew early.

Who did you travel with? Only someone said it depends on the flight company.

[silverka2002]

I had to renew mine after I got married - I had nearly 5 years left on it :mad:
They sent my new passport with 10 years and 9 months on it. So I lost 4 years and 3 months :eek:

[PJackson]

We go in 3.5 weeks and my DH's runs out in Feb 09!!! I was told 3 months so I hope we'll be OK - no time to renew now :confused3

[julie 'o']

Our childrens passports run out in March(we are going in Oct), we were told by the travel agent that you must have a full six month on. We asked at the post office who verified this.:)

[PJackson]

Oh god! Is there anywhere we can find out for definite??? That could be a nightmare for us.... :eek:

[PJackson]

Just checked out the Foreign Office website and it actually says there is no validity requirement for passports for France - obv just valid for period of stay. This was updated today so current. Here:

Passport validity

All British passport holders require a valid passport. There is no minimum passport validity requirement but you should ensure that your passport is valid for the proposed period of your stay.

Here's the link http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/europe/france?ta=entryRequirements&pg=4

I wish travel agents etc would check before spouting out the usual 'what they think' guidelines :rolleyes:

Panic over for us anyway!

[Ware Bears]

That's right ~ it's only because we're not part of the Schengen agreement that we need a valid passport to go.

[lilacgems23]

you dont need any set time on your passport, i looked it up online when we last went as hubby only had 4 mths left on his. it said you just needed it to be in date on your return day. he got home ok so i know this is true lol

[cookie334]

Thanks everyone. Someone I was talking with lately actually told me that the passport validity is not for entering France anyway. We don't need a passport to enter France, we need it to prove that we can return to the UK as we DO need it to get back home?!? How weird is that? :confused3 I think since it will all be added on anyway, I'm just going to renew the kids ones, I don't want to take the chance.

[lilacgems23]

thats true we only got asked to show our passports on the way home

[thelittlemermaid83]

I've always shown my passport when getting the Eurostar to France.

[lilacgems23]

ive only took the ferry

[silverka2002]

thats true we only got asked to show our passports on the way home



Same here!

[cookie334]

We did get have to show ours when we flew there in June, but apparantly it's just so that can make sure that you're going to be able to get back into the UK. They don't care about you getting into France, but wanna make sure you're not gonna be stuck there.