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Passport query
3 Answers
Flying to Tenerife end of Nov 09, and my wifes passport expires mid April10.An agent in Thomas Cook says she needs 3 months validity.An agent in Thomsons says 6 because its Canaries not mainland Spain.Who is right.
Have heard its just conditions of different tour operators.
Have heard its just conditions of different tour operators.
Answers
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Although the Canary Islands are treated as 'non-EU' with regard to bringing back alcohol and tobacco products (because of their special tax status), they're within the European Union and obliged to comply with the laws of the EU.
All EU countries are legally obliged to permit the free movement of EU citizens who can present a valid document to prove their citizenship. (There are a few very limited exceptions, such as people who're regarded as likely to incite racial hatred, but such exceptions aren't relevant here).
That means that a British passport is valid for entry into any EU territory right up until the final second of its expiry date. Obviously, it would be best if it was still valid on the date of return travel as well, but the local authorities can make no such condition for entry (because any EU citizen has the right to remain in any EU country for the rest of their life, if they so choose).
Travel agents rarely pay their staff much (if anything) more than the National Minimum Wage, which means that some (but by no means all) of their staff aren't imbued with a great deal of intelligence or enthusiasm. That results in the travel companies telling their staff to provide the same broad information to all customers (irrespective of its accuracy), rather than asking specific questions (such as whether the customer holds an EU passport) and providing detailed answers.
Chris
All EU countries are legally obliged to permit the free movement of EU citizens who can present a valid document to prove their citizenship. (There are a few very limited exceptions, such as people who're regarded as likely to incite racial hatred, but such exceptions aren't relevant here).
That means that a British passport is valid for entry into any EU territory right up until the final second of its expiry date. Obviously, it would be best if it was still valid on the date of return travel as well, but the local authorities can make no such condition for entry (because any EU citizen has the right to remain in any EU country for the rest of their life, if they so choose).
Travel agents rarely pay their staff much (if anything) more than the National Minimum Wage, which means that some (but by no means all) of their staff aren't imbued with a great deal of intelligence or enthusiasm. That results in the travel companies telling their staff to provide the same broad information to all customers (irrespective of its accuracy), rather than asking specific questions (such as whether the customer holds an EU passport) and providing detailed answers.
Chris
1 to 3 of 3
