Entry Requirements - Passport Validity

PompeyPete

My first paragraph is hypothetical, and sets the scene. Joe Bloggs is flying to Tunisia on a Thomson package on 28 May and returns to UK on 11 June. Joe has just noticed that his Passport expires on 20 June this year.

Joe has looked at the Thomson website to see what they say...

http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/faqs/important-information/passports.html

Quote...

" It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid photo ID. British Citizens must hold a valid 10-year passport. Please note that certain destinations insist on at least 6 months validity from the return date. UK Citizens can check out the Gov.uk website for passport, visa and health information. Other nationalities should check with their own governments."

The Gov.uk website = FCO Travel Advice for the country being visited

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tunisia/entry-requirements

Which state...

"For stays of up to 3 months your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay; you don’t need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this."

So my question is...

Can Joe travel or not? If not, why not?

Thanks, Pete

System

Yes he can. It all seems clear enough so why the question?

ETA
If he wants to stay more than 3 months then he will need a Visa. In this situation the passport must have at least a 6 month validity

London50

There is no reason at all that he cannot travel as the passport is valid for the duration of the holiday {and beyond}. As long as the passport is valid for the dates the persons passport could end on 11 June and it would still cover the holiday period.
I know some will say what if a problem was to arise while away that meant that the person was still in the country after the passport came to an end {say a stay in hospital} what happens but that is something you have no {or little} control over so you would travel back as normal on the next flight.
OK perhaps the traveler should have checked the end date of the passport but most do not and as long as the date of the holiday is within the dates of a valid passport they can travel

PompeyPete

!!!!!! wrote: »

Yes he can. It all seems clear enough so why the question?

This current thread on Trip Advisor (I'm LancasterLad)...

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g293753-i9122-k8491301-o10-Passport_was_fine_cold_here_in_yasmine_hammamet-Tunisia.html

!!!!!! wrote: »

ETA
If he wants to stay more than 3 months then he will need a Visa. In this situation the passport must have at least a 6 month validity

I mentioned the inclusive dates in the OP. A stay of over 3 months would probably open a new can of worms!

PompeyPete

London50 wrote: »

I know some will say what if a problem was to arise while away that meant that the person was still in the country after the passport came to an end {say a stay in hospital} what happens but that is something you have no {or little} control over so you would travel back as normal on the next flight.

The British Embassy in Tunis would issue an Emergency Travel Document if necessary. Same as if you had your Passport stolen or lost it.

London50 wrote: »

OK perhaps the traveler should have checked the end date of the passport but most do not and as long as the date of the holiday is within the dates of a valid passport they can travel

Exactly.

Rambosmum

Some ountries (such as Egypt) want you to have at least 6 months from your return date on your passport, others don't. Your fine.

Voyager2002

So what was the point of this thread? PompeyPete has professional knowledge and clearly knew the answer before posting. Is this simply to wonder at the uninformed "advice" that people get on Trip Advisor? (I don't have time to check the thread there...)

PompeyPete

Yep, I have got professional knowledge.

The trouble is that on that particular TA forum some people are brushing the facts to one side, and giving 'uniformed' advice, which is causing unnecessary worry for people who are asking the question about entry requirements and passport validity.

I started this thread just get the thoughts and opinions of MSE members.

The thread could also remind MSE members [who are interested] to make sure they check their own passport validity on the FCO Travel Advice website well in advance of travelling, and also the Airline website as a x-check.

System

You would be better to check the the country's embassy/consulate site as well if possible. The FCO site has been known to get it wrong in the past

PompeyPete

!!!!!! wrote: »

You would be better to check the the country's embassy/consulate site as well if possible.

This is the Official Tunisian Embassy website in London...

http://www.at-londres.diplomatie.gov.tn/

- Click on Consular Service, and then Passport, there's no information about passport entry requirements for visitors.

- Click on Consular Service, and then Visa, and there is information. But we're not talking about Visas as the visit is for less than 3 months.

!!!!!! wrote: »

The FCO site has been known to get it wrong in the past.

The FCO Advice regarding Passport validity for a visit up to 3 months is 100% correct...

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tunisia/entry-requirements

phatbear

PompeyPete wrote: »

Yep, I have got professional knowledge.

The trouble is that on that particular TA forum some people are brushing the facts to one side, and giving 'uniformed' advice,

this is happening more and more on here too.

lots of people with opinions and when someone comes along who works in the field they get ignored or argued with.

i appreciate its hard to accept someone is who they claim to be on a forum but it is a tad frustrating at times and that's probably why a lot of the old heads don't frequent this section of the site as often as we use to