Passport validity and entry question.
Discussion
I have messed up with remembering passport renewal for my daughter (5) and need some advice. I tried the UK Passport Agency but they said I need to ask UK Border Control. I have tried to speak to someone in UK Border Control but that is proving impossible to speak to anyone there.
We are both British (and German) citizens living in Germany. I have booked flights to visit my parents for a weekend, landing in the UK on 17.1.26 and leaving the UK on 19.1.26. I have just seen that my daughter’s UK passport expires on 26.1.26, which is after we would arrive and leave.
Looking at the relevant part of the Gov.uk website (https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/before-you-leave-for-the-uk) I read it that the passport just needs to be valid at the time of entry and not valid for six months after the date of entry. This would make sense to me because we are British citizens entering the UK on British passports, not foreign visitors who need a visa to enter or stay in the UK.
Does anyone know if my understanding is correct, that the passport just needs to be valid at the time of entry?
I am not confident there is enough time for the overseas renewal application (there is no express service for overseas applicants), so will renew as soon as I am back. She does not have a current German passport, only a German ID that is fine for travel within the EU but not valid for the UK. I have made an emergency application for a new German passport but that will be tight as well to get before the 17.1.26. If I get that I would need the new ETA visa thing, which would be annoying as she is British.
We are both British (and German) citizens living in Germany. I have booked flights to visit my parents for a weekend, landing in the UK on 17.1.26 and leaving the UK on 19.1.26. I have just seen that my daughter’s UK passport expires on 26.1.26, which is after we would arrive and leave.
Looking at the relevant part of the Gov.uk website (https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/before-you-leave-for-the-uk) I read it that the passport just needs to be valid at the time of entry and not valid for six months after the date of entry. This would make sense to me because we are British citizens entering the UK on British passports, not foreign visitors who need a visa to enter or stay in the UK.
Does anyone know if my understanding is correct, that the passport just needs to be valid at the time of entry?
I am not confident there is enough time for the overseas renewal application (there is no express service for overseas applicants), so will renew as soon as I am back. She does not have a current German passport, only a German ID that is fine for travel within the EU but not valid for the UK. I have made an emergency application for a new German passport but that will be tight as well to get before the 17.1.26. If I get that I would need the new ETA visa thing, which would be annoying as she is British.
greygoose said:
It won t be an issue as she is British so there doesn t need to be six months validity. You might need to explain to the airline about the German ID card for the flight back though.
Thanks, that's what I thought but I was doubting myself. The German ID is fine with the airline.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff