Passport 6 month validation question

[hsc3boys]

Hi, we are flying on 20th October, just checked the passports and mine runs out on 13 April, will this be Ok?
Don't realy want to get new passport as got ESTA last October, so it should still be valid for this years trip.

Any advice gratefully received, wouldn't even know which official body I should contact to find out the answer?

 

[cliveywolves]

UK passport holders only need there passport to be valid for there stay in the US, dont worry my friend had 2 weeks left on hers when she last went to US

 

[Elise79]

Some TAs still give this advice however it is incorrect it only needs to be valid long enough for your visit.

My DD travelled on hers only a month before expiry and had no issues

 

[wayneg]

For a trip to US and back, as said, you only need it valid for the dates you travel.
If you are taking a cruise whilst there then you could need a passport to be valid longer. This weekend I checked in for our Disney cruise in Sept, wouldn't let me check in until I updated my passport details, the one they had on record expired in Nov. Changed it to my new one which expires Nov 2024, no problem then.

 

[penlanspice]

It's length of stay although some travel agents have their own rules! two years ago we flew with Thomson and my BIL's passport only had 3 months left on it, it caused so much hassle when we showed up for night before check in, they wouldn't accept it and said it was company policy to have the 6 months, (despite us checking it out before we even booked as it was a late booking and were reassured by the call centre everything would be fine). It made for a very long night with no sleep and one very anxious BIL who has autism and couldn't understand. Next day everything worked out OK as TSA said yes no problem.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Lat year we went on a DCL cruise and then stayed at WDW for a week. I realised a few weeks before that we returned from our trip mid June and my passport expired the following August. I panicked, as I had always believed that you needed six months validity left on your passport. A little research proved to me that this is not the case. I even printed out the passport office's guidelines and those of the US embassy, in case anybody challenged it at the airport. Nobody did. It wasn't even mentioned. No problem at all!!!!

 

[wayneg]

Lat year we went on a DCL cruise and then stayed at WDW for a week. I realised a few weeks before that we returned from our trip mid June and my passport expired the following August. I panicked, as I had always believed that you needed six months validity left on your passport. A little research proved to me that this is not the case. I even printed out the passport office's guidelines and those of the US embassy, in case anybody challenged it at the airport. Nobody did. It wasn't even mentioned. No problem at all!!!!

I would think it only depends on the ports you visit, if they are under US regulations then shouldn't be a problem.

 

[hsc3boys]

Thank you everybody, I have booked the whole thing through Disney, flying with United airlines. So should all be fine, thank you for putting my mind at ease.

 

[skedinger]

PP's are correct that the US and the UK have a reciprocal agreement that they will accept one another's passports through last day of validity. However, as another PP mentioned, travel companies can have their own rules. United Airlines could reject your passport for air travel even though it is valid in both the US and the UK and it would be within their rights to do so.

If I were you, I would get something in writing before you go from United confirming that they will allow you to board the plane in both directions with a passport with less than 6 months validity on it.

We are planning a WDW vacation in August 2015. My son's passport expires in December 2015. To me, it is worth the trip to the US embassy in London to renew the passport to avoid any potential issues. Since I'm American, I don't know how much hassle ESTA is, so I don't know how it compares.

 

[skedinger]

I would think it only depends on the ports you visit, if they are under US regulations then shouldn't be a problem.

If the cruise was visiting all ports in the US, this would be true. However, I don't think any Disney cruises from Port Canaveral stay in the US, do they? Maybe a three day one does, if it only visits Disney's private island.

What would matter is whether each country you visited had a reciprocal agreement with the UK to accept passports through last day of validity.

We learned a lot about passports and cruising this past April when we took a cruise around the Mediterranean. Because we are not EU citizens, our passports were retained by the ship and inspected by immigration in each country we visited (Italy, France, Spain, and Tunisia). It was explained to me at that time that it is the cruiser's responsibility to ensure that their passport meet the requirements of each country visited. This isn't typically explained clearly on the websites. If your passport doesn't meet the requirements, you will be denied entry and required to remain on the ship.

 

[Elise79]

PP's are correct that the US and the UK have a reciprocal agreement that they will accept one another's passports through last day of validity. However, as another PP mentioned, travel companies can have their own rules. United Airlines could reject your passport for air travel even though it is valid in both the US and the UK and it would be within their rights to do so.

If I were you, I would get something in writing before you go from United confirming that they will allow you to board the plane in both directions with a passport with less than 6 months validity on it.

We are planning a WDW vacation in August 2015. My son's passport expires in December 2015. To me, it is worth the trip to the US embassy in London to renew the passport to avoid any potential issues. Since I'm American, I don't know how much hassle ESTA is, so I don't know how it compares.

The only airlines that have ever been reported on here as having issue with less than 6 months left are the charter airlines. No one has ever come back and complained about the scheduled carrier either UK or US.

As I said before neither VA or US immigration batted an eyelid when DD passport expired a month later - she just got a short entry date stamp.

 

[wayneg]

PP's are correct that the US and the UK have a reciprocal agreement that they will accept one another's passports through last day of validity. However, as another PP mentioned, travel companies can have their own rules. United Airlines could reject your passport for air travel even though it is valid in both the US and the UK and it would be within their rights to do so.

If I were you, I would get something in writing before you go from United confirming that they will allow you to board the plane in both directions with a passport with less than 6 months validity on it.

We are planning a WDW vacation in August 2015. My son's passport expires in December 2015. To me, it is worth the trip to the US embassy in London to renew the passport to avoid any potential issues. Since I'm American, I don't know how much hassle ESTA is, so I don't know how it compares.

All the US carriers & UK scheduled carriers stick to the agreement rules 100%, the only issues ever reported are the Charter companies, even those I have not seen anything in the past few years, I think it is a past problem. Same as printing ESTA's, Charter companies were asking for printouts in the early days even though the official site said it was not required.

Not sure about the ports, each cruise needs to be checked for correct passport rules.

 

[fairytale]

Ok, whats your thoughts on this one?

My Passport runs out Jan 2015 and we travel this August. We go:

Man-Cork Aer Lingus
Cork - Man Aer Lingus
Man - Boston VA
Boston - Fort Myers Jet Blue
Miami - Heathrow VA

Will I be ok without 6 months left on my passport?

Annette

 

[wayneg]

Ok, whats your thoughts on this one?

My Passport runs out Jan 2015 and we travel this August. We go:

Man-Cork Aer Lingus
Cork - Man Aer Lingus
Man - Boston VA
Boston - Fort Myers Jet Blue
Miami - Heathrow VA

Will I be ok without 6 months left on my passport?

Annette

You will be OK but is there any reason not to renew early if you are concerned?

You can renew upto 9 month early and get those 9 months added to your new passport.

 

[fairytale]

You will be OK but is there any reason not to renew early if you are concerned?

You can renew upto 9 month early and get those 9 months added to your new passport.

I go in 7 weeks Wayne, I was going to use the check and send service but am panicking to let my passport go now

 

[wayneg]

I go in 7 weeks Wayne, I was going to use the check and send service but am panicking to let my passport go now

You only need a valid passport for the dates you travel so don't have the extra stress of waiting for it returning. Both Aer Lingus and VA know the correct rules, JB don't care once you are in the country.

 

[fairytale]

If I have any problems I'll tell Immigration that "The Disboards" said it would be ok

Thanks you

Annette

 

[scoobydooby]

If I have any problems I'll tell Immigration that "The Disboards" said it would be ok Thanks you Annette

Giggle....