passport

[chriska]

my passport runs out in march im going to france in february for one week do i need a new one

[cliffsdoll]

you're going to have to get a new one very shortly, so better to get it done earlier, than too late, you dont want to ruin yoiur holiday, act now.

[spudqueen]

Yes, you can get a new one now without waiting for the old one to expire.

[scrumpy78]

your passport is invalid six months before its due to run out, so do you mean this date or the date printed below your date of birth? i'm 99% sure of this.........

[dzug]

You can get a renewed passport which will include the unexpired validity of your old one but you need to get a move on.

I've found conflicting information on France - one source says just a valid passport, the other, one with 3 months validity. I'm inclined to believe the former. 6 months is rubbish (for France - true for some countries).

In reality if you are travelling by car ferry you will not see an immigration official anyway - ferry checkin staff are supposed to check you have a passport, but that's it.

[hugnie21]

Not true dzug,

If travelling from Dover you would definitely see an Immigration Official. The PAF (Police aux Frontieres) are based in Dover to check before you get on the ferry, and UK immigration are based in France for the way back. The PAF would only require a valid passport, so if it runs out in March you would be OK. However, if travelling by air it is up to the airline, so you should check your paperwork.

[dzug]

My answer was based on experiences in Portsmouth and landing in French ports from there. My passport has never been looked at by anyone other than the ferry check in clerk and (on return) a UK immigration official.

Apologies if Dover is different.