Passport expiry

[Deleted User]

I appreciate that this is a question that has been asked many times, but I would like some clarity if possible. My passport was issued January 2014. It expires in October 2024, but I know that really it expires now in January 2024. I wish to go to Europe in August 2023. Will my passport be valid? I think I have worked out that I need to renew my passport in October/November 2023, but just wanted to make sure. The rules are quite boggling. Thank you

eskbanker

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/non-eu-nationals/index_en.htm

If you are a non-EU national wishing to visit or travel within the EU, you will need a passport:

• valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU country you are visiting,
• which was issued within the previous 10 years,

and possibly a visa.

so your passport would be valid to visit an EU country up to January 2024.

eDicky

UK passport expiry date always remains as stated in the passport, it's only for European travel that validity in excess of ten years is unacceptable.

Gov.uk outlines the requirements quite clearly:

Passport validity

If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements.

Your passport must be:

• Issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

You must check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

Grahmb65

the gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice website is anything BUT clear! If you are saying that the expiry date shown in the passport is not the expiry date that counts but the real expiry date is the date ten years after the issue date. Where does it say anything like that? It doesn't. Why does it say"check the expiry date" when the expiry date doesn't count. It remarks that "extra months may have been added". so what? Why isn't it explained why this matters. If it matters why couldn't they just add "The expiry date cannot be more that 10 years of the issue date" If it is, the true expiry date is the issue date plus ten years.
The page on the gov.uk website is definitely NOT clear. It is mind boggling and confusing.
Can anyone help me with my passport predicament please? Because I am completely baffled! 
My passport was issued 14th June 2013 and the expiry date is 14th August 2023 therefore, 2 months were added. I plan to go to Spain 11th April to 27th April 2023 and I have no idea if it is valid or not. If the shown expiry date does not count and the expiry date is 14th June 2023 I will only have two months left on it instead of the required three months. But where does it say anything like that on the website. I have contacted my airline and the passport advice line and they can't help. They just tell me to look at the gov.uk website. phew!!
Thank you.
Greyham.

DullGreyGuy

Grahmb65 said:

the gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice website is anything BUT clear! If you are saying that the expiry date shown in the passport is not the expiry date that counts but the real expiry date is the date ten years after the issue date. Where does it say anything like that? It doesn't. Why does it say"check the expiry date" when the expiry date doesn't count. It remarks that "extra months may have been added". so what? Why isn't it explained why this matters. If it matters why couldn't they just add "The expiry date cannot be more that 10 years of the issue date" If it is, the true expiry date is the issue date plus ten years.
The page on the gov.uk website is definitely NOT clear. It is mind boggling and confusing.
Can anyone help me with my passport predicament please? Because I am completely baffled! 
My passport was issued 14th June 2013 and the expiry date is 14th August 2023 therefore, 2 months were added. I plan to go to Spain 11th April to 27th April 2023 and I have no idea if it is valid or not. If the shown expiry date does not count and the expiry date is 14th June 2023 I will only have two months left on it instead of the required three months. But where does it say anything like that on the website. I have contacted my airline and the passport advice line and they can't help. They just tell me to look at the gov.uk website. phew!!
Thank you.
Greyham.

It's not that difficult... you have to remember the difference between a sovereign nation deciding what rules it wants on ithe passports  it issues -v- another sovereign nation deciding on who it wants to let in. 

Your passport was issued 14 July 2013 so according to most EU countries it will expire on 13 July 2023.

To visit Spain, as an EU country, your passport must be valid for 3 months after your planned date of departure. You plan to leave on 27 April and so would need a passport that expires on or after 27 July. Yours expires 13 July and therefore dosent meet the requirements. 

For a more extreme example see the passport of Malaysia that says "This passport is valid for all countries except Israel" but turn up at Israel's border with a Malaysian passport and they will happily let you in with it. 

Ultimately entry to any country is determined by 2 people, the person on checkin and the immigration officer at the other end. Fail to convince either of your right and you will be declined. Bother are human and can make mistakes

eskbanker

DullGreyGuy said:

Grahmb65 said:

My passport was issued 14th June 2013 and the expiry date is 14th August 2023 therefore, 2 months were added. I plan to go to Spain 11th April to 27th April 2023

To visit Spain, as an EU country, your passport must be valid for 3 months after your planned date of departure. You plan to leave on 27 April and so would need a passport that expires on or after 27 July. Yours expires 13 July and therefore dosent meet the requirements. 

Expiry here is 14 August and therefore does meet the requirements....

Grahmb65 said:

If you are saying that the expiry date shown in the passport is not the expiry date that counts but the real expiry date is the date ten years after the issue date. Where does it say anything like that? It doesn't. Why does it say"check the expiry date" when the expiry date doesn't count. It remarks that "extra months may have been added". so what? Why isn't it explained why this matters. If it matters why couldn't they just add "The expiry date cannot be more that 10 years of the issue date" If it is, the true expiry date is the issue date plus ten years.

Nobody is saying that the expiry date is redefined - there are two separate checks applicable to entering the EU, namely that entry must be within ten years of issue and departure must be three months before expiry, so the documented expiry date does count, but only for departure from the EU....

Grahmb65

Thank you for your replies
My passport,( issued 14th June 2013) will be less than 10 years old when I enter Spain, (11th April 2023) so I am ok there.
I leave Spain (27th April 2023) and the expiry date shown on my passport is (14th August 2023) so, that is just under 4 months after I leave Spain. so, ok there. or not. I think.
On the gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice Spain entry requirements It does not say, or make clear, that the expiry date shown on the passport means nothing and the the expiry date is actually ten years after the issue date.
You say it is not difficult but I find it very confusing. Surely its not just me. Why should Spain not accept the two months added on anyway?  (14th August 2023 ) That is the expiry date. My passport is still under ten years old when I leave Spain. (27th April)
I regard myself as having average intelligence, but having real trouble understanding this. 

tightauldgit

Grahmb65 said:

Thank you for your replies
My passport,( issued 14th June 2013) will be less than 10 years old when I enter Spain, (11th April 2023) so I am ok there.
I leave Spain (27th April 2023) and the expiry date shown on my passport is (14th August 2023) so, that is just under 4 months after I leave Spain. so, ok there. or not. I think.
On the gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice Spain entry requirements It does not say, or make clear, that the expiry date shown on the passport means nothing and the the expiry date is actually ten years after the issue date.
You say it is not difficult but I find it very confusing. Surely its not just me. Why should Spain not accept the two months added on anyway?  (14th August 2023 ) That is the expiry date. My passport is still under ten years old when I leave Spain. (27th April)
I regard myself as having average intelligence, but having real trouble understanding this. 

The expiry date does not 'mean nothing' the expiry date still applies. But there are two checks effectively

1. When you enter your passport must be less than 10 years old (from the date of issue). You can enter the EU until 14th June 2023 but...
2. When you leave you must have 3 months left until the stated expiry date. You need to leave before 14th May 2023. 

According to the rules you are fine. 

sheramber

The validity of of the passport of a non EU National is an EU ruling, not a UK ruling. 

Note,  the entry date requirement refers to when the passport was issued-  less than 10 years from issue  which 14 June 2013.

  The EU never recognised the extra months the UK added on to a passport but when we were members of the EU it didn't matter.

Now that we are no longer in the EU  we are required to abide by EU rules so a passport must have been issued with the last 10 years.

When leaving the relevant date is the expiry date of the passport- a different  date. The expiry date is what is written on your passport.

So your passport is valid for leaving the EU until 14 August 2023.

eskbanker

sheramber said:

When leaving the relevant date is the expiry date of the passport- a different  date. The expiry date is what is written on your passport.

So your passport is valid for leaving the EU until 14 August 2023.

For the avoidance of doubt, the passport is valid for leaving the EU until three months before that expiry date, i.e. 14 May, as per earlier posts.

sheramber

eskbanker said:

sheramber said:

When leaving the relevant date is the expiry date of the passport- a different  date. The expiry date is what is written on your passport.

So your passport is valid for leaving the EU until 14 August 2023.

For the avoidance of doubt, the passport is valid for leaving the EU until three months before that expiry date, i.e. 14 May, as per earlier posts.

yes, should have said that.