Travel from UK to EU as EU citizen - passport validity rules

BoyJohn811 · 26 March at 2:59PM

Hi, I am an EU citizen living in the UK. I plan to travel back to Europe for one month with Ryanair, and I am trying to find out whether Ryanair has any rules on minimum passport validity. They list a six‑month rule for non‑EU citizens, but they do not say anything about EU citizens.

As far as I am aware, EU law requires that travel documents only need to be valid on the day of travel. Could someone comment on this? I cannot find any documentation from Ryanair online. Their chat support says three months, which is yet another rule. Thank you.

la531983 · 26 March at 3:04PM

Airlines dont set the rules. Countries do.

Surely an EU passport is valid to enter the EU right up until the day of expiry, in the same way a UK passport is valid to enter the UK, no matter who you are flying with.

"Ryanair accepts only valid passports or National Identity Cards as travel ID, not driver's licenses or birth certificates. Passengers must ensure their documents meet requirements"

What travel documents are valid and can be used for travel on Ryanair flights? – Ryanair Help Centre

MyRealNameToo · 26 March at 3:13PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6661429/travel-from-uk-to-eu-as-eu-citizen-passport-validity-rules

So you have an EU passport? In principle it needs to be valid on the day of travel though some will say for the duration of your trip.

Are you a dual British national? If you are presumably you know the new rules on entry into the UK as a British citizen that holds another passport?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81938345#Comment_81938345

Airlines do set their own rules, based on their interpretation of the countries rules, they ultimately decide not if you can get into the country but if you will be allowed on their aircraft. Some countries charge airlines significant sums for anyone they bring to the country that is subsequently refused entry and as such some are cautious. Plus in times of turmoil, like covid, it can be difficult to track what the exact rules are at any given time.

When we went overseas our host nation had 3 different official government websites all giving different rules and their local press were carry announcements from from their parliament that were different again. Weren't a million miles away from each other but notable enough differences or vagaries that could cause problems

BoyJohn811 · 26 March at 3:14PM

Thanks, that is what I thought. However, people are regularly being turned away at airports with the six months non-EU citizen rule. I just do not want to risk it. The link also does not say any minimum validity for EU citizens.

NoodleDoodleMan · 26 March at 3:15PM

"Airlines dont set the rules. Countries do."

Didn't Ryanair set their own rules until corrected by Simon Calder ?

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/ryanair-brexit-passport-validity-uk-b2072584.html

Woodstok2000 · 26 March at 3:16PM

https://www.google.com/amp/s/europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/eu-citizen/indexamp_en.htm

"If you re-enter an EU or Schengen country from abroad, your travel document must be valid on the day you are travelling."

peteuk · 26 March at 3:18PM

EU passport from which country? Travelling to which EU country…

The issue might not be getting into the EU, but getting back into the UK depending on what’s left on your passport.

Outbound from what I can see is as long as you have a valid (in date) passport or national identity card you’ll be able to move within the EU freely. Although there is no boarder checks as your flying in then your passport.ID card will be checked.

Gold standard for most travel is 6 months validity on a passport.

flaneurs_lobster · 26 March at 3:23PM

Assume your passport is about to expire?

Any chance of getting it renewed before you travel?

You don't say which EU country you hold a passport for but I recently renewed an Eire passport - took only a week.

BoyJohn811 · 26 March at 3:38PM

It is a Hungarian passport and travelling back to Hungary. I am not a dual citizen, but have UK settled status. I checked and the UK government does not have minimum validity rules when entering the country. My passport should be valid for my trip + 3 months, but not 6 months.

Regarding this:

"Outbound from what I can see is as long as you have a valid (in date) passport or national identity card you’ll be able to move within the EU freely. Although there is no boarder checks as your flying in then your passport.ID card will be checked." - this is only within the EU and the UK is not part of it.

I might be able to renew it but with Easter coming, they cannot guarantee (20-40 working days)…