Is my passport valid?

DO_YOU_KNOW_DAVE

Hello there,
I'm going to PRAGUE in the last week of september. I want to know if my passport is still valid as it runs out in feb 06. Somebody has told me you need six months left on your passport to travel. Mine would be just short.
Is this true?

Mr_Warren_2

Prague is capital of Czech republic, new member of the EU (European Community). As such you can go to Prague and return to the UK on the 27th February 2006 if you so wish.

bigman3

This is not the case with every country. Some countries require you to have 6 months validity.

I doubt this is the case for an EU country.

mike_paterson

DO_YOU_KNOW_DAVE wrote:

Hello there,
I'm going to PRAGUE in the last week of september. I want to know if my passport is still valid as it runs out in feb 06. Somebody has told me you need six months left on your passport to travel. Mine would be just short.
Is this true?

It looks like you are ok :

Nationals from European Union countries and European Economic Area (EEA):

As from the 1st of May 2004 nationals from European Union countries and European Economic Area can travel to the Czech Republic with a passport or ID card which is valid for the entire duration of their stay.

EU and EEA citizens whose stay in the Czech Republic will exceed 30 days are obliged to register within 30 days on their arrival in the Czech Republic with the Alien and Border Police.
In case you stay in a hotel or similar institution the provider of the accommodation should arrange this registration for you.

All other nationals who do not require visas:

The passport must be valid for a period of at least 90 days beyond the expected length of stay in the Czech Republic, counted from the date of entering the Czech Republic.

Foreign nationals whose stay in the Czech Republic will exceed 30 days are obliged to register within 30 days on their arrival in the Czech Republic with the Alien and Border Police.
In case you stay in a hotel or similar institution the provider of the accommodation should arrange this registration for you.

Nationals who do require visas:

In case of visas not exceeding 90 days (short term visas), the passport has to be valid for at least 90 days beyond the requested length of the visa.

In case of visas exceeding 90 days, the passport has to be valid for at least 455 days.

Foreign nationals are obliged to register with the Alien and Border Police within 3 weekdays of their arrival in the Czech Republic.
In case you stay in a hotel or similar institution the provider of the accommodation should arrange this registration for you.

Children inscribed in parent's passport:

Children inscribed in their parents´ passports are allowed to travel with their parents up to the age of 15. Once the child has reached the age of 15, a separate passport is necessary.


So the passport has to be valid just for the duration of the stay.

I got this from the website for the Czech Republic Embassy for the UK at http://www.mzv.cz/wwwo/default.asp?ParentIDO=15414&ido=15718&amb=153&idj=2

Google is a great thing when you need to find information !

Mr_Warren_2

6 months validity mostly for countries requesting Visa for visitors. EU countries under slightly different rules.....typical. Sorry for erronous comments earlier on, 3 months validity on your passport is needed on the day you return from Prague. You therefore can go happilly at the end of September.

peejay67

Your passport must be valid for 90 days beyond your intended stay.

PJ

bigman3

2/ Information for holders of British passports


British citizens holding a full British Passport and holders of British passports with one of these sentences: "HOLDER HAS THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM" or "HOLDER IS ENTITLED TO READMISSION TO THE UNITED KINGDOM" typed on one of the pages do not require a Visa to enter the Czech Republic. The passport has to be valid for the entire duration of stay in the Czech Republic.
Persons holding British Overseas Citizens passports require a Visa. Holders of British Travel Document /blue one/ issued under the 1951 Geneva Convention and holders of British Travel Document /brown one/ require a visa for tourism and business trips and they have to apply IN PERSON.

http://www.czechembassy.org.uk/visa.htm#PRVNI

Loretta

Last summer my husband and I took our son, aged 17 and his friend to Ibiza and we were told at passport control that my son could not travel because his passport ran out in 5 months time. Passports cost a lot especially when you are buying several seperate ones for each of the family and you don't actually get the full length of time you are paying for.

Also Spain has been part of the EU for years and I thought that you didn't actually need a passport just proof of identity with photo, like a driving licence which he had. I queried this and 'kept on'!, I cried, I yelled, I caused a scene, asked to speak to someone higher up!! I was determined he was going and then they just chganged their minds and off we went. I think they just please themselves it is how they feel on the day.

socmwils23

Well as i work for immigration i thought i would try and clear up the points raised.

First your passport is valid for travel within the EU up until the expiry date. The 6 months to expiry is used by the Americans and is there because when you enter you can stay for up to 6 months on a visitors stamp. They want to know that should you stay for the maximum time limit your passport will still be valid for you to leave.

As for the "it is how they feel on the day" well that is 100% wrong. First you would not have seen passport control on your way out of the UK. The decision as to whether your son would have travelled is down to the airline. The reason they probably said no at the start is if they bring an inadequately docemented person into the country they get fined £2000. There is no 6 month requirement for spain however and to me it sounds like the airline got their facts wrong then eventually realised their mistake and let him travel.

As for travelling with driving licenses well that isnt allowed for the UK as we are not part of the schengen travel area. You need a document which establishes your nationality. A driving license does not do this as anyone is free to apply for one. If we get the much talked about national id cards then you will be able to use them. Every other EU state has one and use them freely.

Hope this helps. To sum it up your free to travel within the EU up until the date your passport expires.