Travel to Majorca with 5 months left on passport

[HappyFace]

My passport expires in February 2007. I am going to Majorca in September 2006. I have read somewhere that you must have 6 months left on your passport on your return date. Is this true? If anyone could confirm either way with evidence I would be grateful. Thanks

[Polotoo]

Hi Happyface

As far as I know you do need 6 months left upon your return date, I recently went to Canada and had to renew my passport for this very reason!

I think it would be the same for Europe, might be wise to do it now just in case. A travel agent should be able to tell you for sure.

Have a lovely holiday!

[dzug]

It depends on where you are going, and the nationality of your passport. With 6 months you will never be caught out, which is why travel agents and tour operators specify it. They would rather 99 people renewed their passports unnecessarily than one get caught out and refused entry. They will not bother to try and find correct information in case they get it wrong.

Polotoo, your passport (according to the Canadian High Commission site) needed to be valid for just one day beyond your stay in Canada, not 6 months.

http://www.canada.org.uk/visa-info/general/faqtrv1e.htm#How%20long%20does%20my%20passport%20have%20to%20be%20valid%20if%20I%20want%20to%20travel%20to%20Canada?

For Spain with a UK passport it just needs to be valid.

It's still wise to renew your passport well in advance - the validity of the new one will be extended to include the unexpired part of the old one and you will avoid any fee increases.

[jrtv]

dzug is correct, if your passport is valid then you are ok

If you need reasurrance you can speak to someone in English at the Spanish Embassy 0161 237 3736

[dzug]

In fact this site:

http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Spain/Visa

says your passport can be expired - I've seen that stated elsewhere as well. I wouldn't want to put it to the test though - your airline may have other ideas.

[Polotoo]

Hi Dzug

Thanks for the info, wish I'd thought to post on here before renewing, grumble grumble!!

Can't remember who told me 6 months, but someone did, maybe the travel agent?

I used to work at the airport a few years ago, and we were always told 6 months, but I think thats a case of ground staff don't have the time to find out about each one. I can remember sending faxes to different countries to get permission for things like expired passports, but the airlines may well refuse you travel as they don't want the responsibility of bringing you back again in the event of being refused. Better to be safe than sorry!