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Passport Confusion

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Hi,

We have been turned away by RyanAir this week we believe incorrectly to travel to Greece.

We are trying to fly again on Saturday but will need to take new COVID tests before that - I’m struggling to find anyone who can confirm if my wife’s passport will be accepted… (tried airlines, consulates etc)

Holly (Adult British Passport)
Valid from: 9th July 2012
Expires: 9th July 2023
Date of travel and return: Both within April 2022

As I understand it that satisfies the 10 year rule and she has more than 3 months remaining on her passport at departure and on return.

I have read that airlines like EasyJet are interpreting things differently and the recent quote from the EC in the Independent suggests she is in line…

Any help greatly appreciated-

Dave 

“A spokesperson for the European Commission told The Independent: “To give a practical example, a non-EU traveller arriving on 1 December 2021 for a 20 days stay in the EU with a passport issued on 2 December 2011 and valid until 2 April 2022 will be allowed entry.”

But the UK government claims otherwise, saying: “For some Schengen countries your passport may need to be less than 10 years old during your whole visit, and the three months at the end of your visit may need to be within 10 years of your passport’s issue date.”

In other words, the government says, your passport must have been issued no more than nine years and nine months ago.

This is nonsense, as I have pointed out to officials – including supplying explicit confirmation from the European Commission in Brussels.“

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Comments

  • TELLIT01
    TELLIT01 Posts: 18,000 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper PPI Party Pooper
    Can you confirm the dates on the passport.  I was of the understanding the UK passports were extended by a maximum of 9 months, not a full year.  What are the actual intended travel dates?  If you are travelling next Saturday (16th April), there will not be 3 months remaining on the passport on the departure date.
    The quote from The Independent contradicts everything I've read about validity for travel to the EU.
  • You are fighting the wrong battle I think.
    The passport now does not have 3 months left on it with the "no more than 10 years old" as it's the 13 April and so 3 months would be 13 July and your 10 year expiry is 09 July 2022.
    Check in agents are not fully up to speed with European or British law so trying to convince one is a losing battle from the start.
  • 400ixl
    400ixl Posts: 4,482 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    I believe passports for EU entry are valid for 10 years from the date of issue not the date of expiry as the additional months don't count. You also need to have 3 months left on it on the date you leave the EU.

    So on a passport with a 9th July 2012 issue date you would need to be leaving the EU country on the 9th April 2022 for it to be valid. So unfortunately not valid as we are already passed that before you enter.

    UK Gov site - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece/entry-requirements
    EU Official site - https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/non-eu-nationals/index_en.htm

    As you have quoted the Independent, here is an article which clearly states it it the issue date which is important. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/travel-renew-passport-eu-expiration-rules-b2021606.html

    All of those agree that it you need a passport issued in the last 10years (not expires) and needs to have 3 months left on date of exit from the EU country.

    Happy to be corrected, but my understanding is unfortunately your wife's passport is not valid for this trip.

  • Caz3121
    Caz3121 Posts: 15,833 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    dcann31 said:
     But the UK government claims otherwise, saying: “For some Schengen countries your passport may need to be less than 10 years old during your whole visit, and the three months at the end of your visit may need to be within 10 years of your passport’s issue date.”

    the government site also says 
    Contact your travel provider or embassy of the country you are visiting if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. 

    Have you contacted the Greece embassy?
  • dcann31
    dcann31 Posts: 7 Forumite
    First Post
    Thanks - that’s the exact article I referenced in my initial post which suggests some airlines are inline with the EC approach (see the scenario I quoted above).

    I spoke to the Greek embassy this morning and sent them an email which will hopefully be reviewed in the next 24hours.

    And I have schlepped to Luton Airport, arriving soon, to discuss with airlines - all phone lines seem to say that the only people who can confirm are the customer service managers at airports….

    Gov UK website states they are awaiting clarification from the EC in Spring 22…
  • dcann31
    dcann31 Posts: 7 Forumite
    First Post
    This was a present for my wife for fighting on the frontlines in hospital during Covid so not giving up without knowing for sure we can’t travel.

    And will write to my MP also - I received a reminder to renew my driving licence recently, why not the same for passports — esp when they have taken a year off the expiry without you realising… And airlines must know this at both booking and check in…
  • TELLIT01
    TELLIT01 Posts: 18,000 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper PPI Party Pooper
    This is from the Ryanair website and seems entirely in accordance with EU requirements.
     "It is each passenger's responsibility to carry a travel document which meets the requirements of Ryanair immigration and other authorities. You can check visa and passport requirements by contacting the Consulate or Embassy of the country you are planning to visit.
    All non EU passport holders, travelling into a Schengen member country are obliged to ensure that their passport is valid for at least 3 months from the date of their departure from the Schengen member country. "
  • 400ixl
    400ixl Posts: 4,482 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Hmm, I can see the argument now.

    It says the passport must be within 10 years of the issue date, so that is 9th July 2022
    It says the passport must be valid for 3 months from date of exit of the EU country which could be 9th April 2022 or 9th April 2023 going on the OP's dates (although I didn't think you could renew 12 months early back then)

    So the question is, is the "valid" date the passport issue date or expiry date.

    On the government removing a year and not notifying, they haven't as for many countries the expiry date is still valid.
  • dcann31
    dcann31 Posts: 7 Forumite
    First Post
    For anyone interested - I am at Luton Airport and EASYJET HAVE CONFIRMED WE COULD HAVE FLOWN WITH THEM ON THAT PASSPORT…. There is no one from RyanAir to speak with at Luton… This is madness…
  • katejo
    katejo Posts: 4,267 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    dcann31 said:
    For anyone interested - I am at Luton Airport and EASYJET HAVE CONFIRMED WE COULD HAVE FLOWN WITH THEM ON THAT PASSPORT…. There is no one from RyanAir to speak with at Luton… This is madness…
    I am very surprised that Easyjet is saying this. With the new rules, I would expect your passport to 'in effect' expire 3 months before 9th July 2022. I am also surprised that you had as long as 12 months carried over from the previous one. I thought that the previous limit to carry over was 9 months.
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