Passports - close to expiry date

[maryliz]

Hi there. I know that I've read it here recently, but cannot find it. Some countries do not permit entry if the passport is within 6 months of expiry, which I totally disagree with, but since it's not ME running those countries ... I have a friend who has been offered a great deal on a cruise for early March. Caribbean cruise, leaving out of Ft. Lauderdale. Their passports expire at the end of March. Is there a way that they can be assured that they won't have any problems when they get to Pearson, or when they get on the ship?

Maybe one of you knowlegeable TA's on here can help ... what would you advise a client to do here? I mean, we know that getting NEW passports probably won't happen, and that's taking just as much a risk IMHO.

Any thoughts or suggestions? TIA.

 

[sean-1966]

That sounds a bit too close for me. I'd get a new one.

 

[Amberle3]

Most countries that require a passport also have the requirement that it be valid for 6 months past the date of entry. Whether or not they enforce it is entirely at the discretion of the official overseeing their entry to the country. It's best not to risk it and try to get a new passport ASAP. It might require paying extra to expedite it, but personally I'd rather do that than risk being denied entry to a country.

 

[damo]

On the passport Canada site, in the frequently asked questions area, it states that as long as you return before your passport expiry date, there is no issue.

If I travel by air, does my passport need to be valid for any length of time prior to the date of my entry into the US?
No, as long as the passport is valid the day you return to Canada.

 

[amw]

The US is not one of the countries that requires the six months. As the previous poster said, there's no concern.

My husband travels to the US on a weekly basis and his passport expires in a month. He applied for a new one on Monday in office, paid for express service, and is picking it up at the office this Monday. In the meanwhile, he was allowed to still travel with the "clipped" passport.

 

[Amberle3]

The US may not be but chances are very good that at least one of the countries on a Caribbean cruise might be. Depending of course on which countries the cruise is visiting.

 

[briar_rose_59]

The US may not be but chances are very good that at least one of the countries on a Caribbean cruise might be. Depending of course on which countries the cruise is visiting.

Exactly what I was thinking. With cruises it's tricky because just about every day you're "entering" a new country. I would probably be trying to get a renewal or something.

 

[damo]

They can check each country's requirements that they will be entering. The information is all available online. http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1229.html

Here is a short list.
Brazil, Ecuador (including the Galapagos Islands), Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Paraguay, Romania, Singapore: six months.

Cambodia, Denmark (including Greenland), Fiji, Switzerland: three months (Denmark applies its three-month rule to your stay in any of 15 European countries).

 

[maryliz]

Thanks everyone! As always, my Dis-friends come through.