Passport Validity for France Entry - state.gov Says >6 mo Needed?
Jun 5, 2015, 5:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 13
Passport Validity for France Entry - state.gov Says >6 mo Needed?
Hi All,
I am leaving to Berlin in two days (6/7/15) and returning from France on 6/20/15. My passport expires 10/26/15, and I will be taking a train into France on 6/16/15. I didn't think much of it when planning the trip because a lot of websites say you only need 3 months or more passport validity upon exiting France. However, the US government site below also states that you need to have 6 months validity upon entering France!
http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...ry/france.html
American Airlines (AA) has confirmed that it's not an issue and will for sure let me board (CSR noted it on my account). Am I screwed? Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!
I am leaving to Berlin in two days (6/7/15) and returning from France on 6/20/15. My passport expires 10/26/15, and I will be taking a train into France on 6/16/15. I didn't think much of it when planning the trip because a lot of websites say you only need 3 months or more passport validity upon exiting France. However, the US government site below also states that you need to have 6 months validity upon entering France!
http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...ry/france.html
American Airlines (AA) has confirmed that it's not an issue and will for sure let me board (CSR noted it on my account). Am I screwed? Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!
Jun 5, 2015, 5:30 pm
#2
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Do they even check passports intra-Shengen on trains these days?
Here' what a Timatic search came up with based on your passport expiration:
Here' what a Timatic search came up with based on your passport expiration:
Type: Ok
Summary
Yes, The travel documentations held by the traveler are sufficient!
Type: Ok
France - Destination Passport
The following regulations apply to children/minors:
Alien minors up to/including 17 years of age can be included in parent's passport, provided travelling with their parents.
Important:
Passports and/or passport replacing documents issued more than 10 years prior to date of travel are not accepted.
Type: Ok
France - Destination Visa
Additional information:
Schengen visa is also valid for French Guiana, French West Indies and Reunion, provided endorsed "Also valid for French territories being in observation of the respective French territories".
Visitors are required to hold proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay and documents required for their next destination.
Type: Ok
France - Destination Health
This information is for guide purposes only. Other health organisations may recommend alternative precautions.
Vaccinations not required.
Modify SearchCountry informationSend to customer
© IATA Netherlands BV 2015 all rights reserved. Usage subject to Terms of use
Summary
Yes, The travel documentations held by the traveler are sufficient!
Type: Ok
France - Destination Passport
The following regulations apply to children/minors:
Alien minors up to/including 17 years of age can be included in parent's passport, provided travelling with their parents.
Important:
Passports and/or passport replacing documents issued more than 10 years prior to date of travel are not accepted.
Type: Ok
France - Destination Visa
Additional information:
Schengen visa is also valid for French Guiana, French West Indies and Reunion, provided endorsed "Also valid for French territories being in observation of the respective French territories".
Visitors are required to hold proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay and documents required for their next destination.
Type: Ok
France - Destination Health
This information is for guide purposes only. Other health organisations may recommend alternative precautions.
Vaccinations not required.
Modify SearchCountry informationSend to customer
© IATA Netherlands BV 2015 all rights reserved. Usage subject to Terms of use
Jun 5, 2015, 5:33 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,366
Hi All,
I am leaving to Berlin in two days (6/7/15) and returning from France on 6/20/15. My passport expires 10/26/15, and I will be taking a train into France on 6/16/15. I didn't think much of it when planning the trip because a lot of websites say you only need 3 months or more passport validity upon exiting France. However, the US government site below also states that you need to have 6 months validity upon entering France!
http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...ry/france.html
American Airlines (AA) has confirmed that it's not an issue and will for sure let me board (CSR noted it on my account). Am I screwed? Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!
I am leaving to Berlin in two days (6/7/15) and returning from France on 6/20/15. My passport expires 10/26/15, and I will be taking a train into France on 6/16/15. I didn't think much of it when planning the trip because a lot of websites say you only need 3 months or more passport validity upon exiting France. However, the US government site below also states that you need to have 6 months validity upon entering France!
http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...ry/france.html
American Airlines (AA) has confirmed that it's not an issue and will for sure let me board (CSR noted it on my account). Am I screwed? Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!
Try this to see what rules apply: it's the database that the airlines use to decide if you can travel legally or not.
If you're still unsure, but feel that you are ok, take a printout of the result when you check in.
Jun 5, 2015, 5:42 pm
#4
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I wouldn't depend on the advice given by a foreign government - the US doesn't decide what rules apply to France, nor would I depend on them to be accurate in their information.
Try this to see what rules apply: it's the database that the airlines use to decide if you can travel legally or not.
If you're still unsure, but feel that you are ok, take a printout of the result when you check in.
Try this to see what rules apply: it's the database that the airlines use to decide if you can travel legally or not.
If you're still unsure, but feel that you are ok, take a printout of the result when you check in.
OP is fine. What the USG thinks is irrelevant. All that matters is what France thinks. Not much more to be done here.
Jun 5, 2015, 5:46 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2007
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Posts: 5,366
I was making my post at the same time DocSavage was posting. I'm so dreadfully sorry if I've transgressed some obscure FT rule about simultaneous posting, I may well be forced to report myself to the moderators.
OP is fine. What the USG thinks is irrelevant. All that matters is what France thinks. Not much more to be done here.
Jun 5, 2015, 5:54 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 13
Thanks for all the replies. I didn't realize intra-Shengan trains were typically lax with this stuff -- this was really my only worry. Sigh...I work at a company that supports the USG, and the USG never fails at...failing me.
Jun 5, 2015, 5:57 pm
#7
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Based on the Timatic info, you should be fine. It's late, but any chance you could call a French consulate and ask them?
If I were traveling, I'd feel safe going. I really doubt you'll have even the slightest question.
Here's another State Department website that shows only a three month requirement for Shengen entry/exit.
http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...act-sheet.html
Travel to European Countries in the Schengen Area
Check the expiration date on your passport carefully before traveling to Europe. Entry into any of the 26 European countries in the Schengen area for short-term tourism, a business trip, or in transit to a non-Schengen destination, requires that your passport be valid for at least three months beyond your intended date of departure. If your passport does not meet the Schengen requirements, you may be refused boarding by the airline at your point of origin or while transferring planes. You could also be denied entry when you arrive in the Schengen area. For this reason, we recommend that your passport have at least six months’validity remaining whenever you travel abroad. You can find passport validity requirements for your destination country, along with other important information, on our Country Specific Information pages. To ensure that your travel plans are not disrupted, plan ahead to renew your passport before traveling. Visit our passport website for more information on applying for a new or renewal passport.
Check the expiration date on your passport carefully before traveling to Europe. Entry into any of the 26 European countries in the Schengen area for short-term tourism, a business trip, or in transit to a non-Schengen destination, requires that your passport be valid for at least three months beyond your intended date of departure. If your passport does not meet the Schengen requirements, you may be refused boarding by the airline at your point of origin or while transferring planes. You could also be denied entry when you arrive in the Schengen area. For this reason, we recommend that your passport have at least six months’validity remaining whenever you travel abroad. You can find passport validity requirements for your destination country, along with other important information, on our Country Specific Information pages. To ensure that your travel plans are not disrupted, plan ahead to renew your passport before traveling. Visit our passport website for more information on applying for a new or renewal passport.
Jun 5, 2015, 5:58 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2007
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It's not being lax, it's about being borderless: strictly speaking there is freedom of movement between Schengen countries, and you should not be required to show your passport when traveling from one to another. Once you're in, as long as you don't stray from Schengen, you should be ok as long as you don't overstay and your passport remains valid.
Jun 5, 2015, 6:02 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 13
Woops, that makes sense. I won't be expecting them to be lax. We're starting in Berlin and heading to Amsterdam (plane), Brussels (train), and Paris (train) in that order. I called the consulate in Los Angeles, and the first person to pick up assured me I'll be OK. The US passport office, over the phone, suggested I head to Canada instead -_-...
Jun 8, 2015, 8:51 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: AMS
Programs: TK*G, KL, AB
Posts: 143
Not quite, valid passport is not enough. It has to be valid for at least 3 more months at the time of departing from the Schengen area.
Jun 21, 2015, 4:38 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 13
Just to follow up: we had no passport issues. We traveled via train from Amsterdam to Brussels to Paris via Thalys and they never checked our passports. Also, EasyJet employees had no issues with our passport expiration dates when flying from Berlin to Amsterdam.
Aug 7, 2015, 4:59 am
#13
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That makes sense - those rules quoted (3 months beyond stay) apply when entering the Schengen area, but not when traveling within Schengen.
Aug 7, 2015, 5:10 am
#14
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Indeed. For example, non-EU/EEA citizens who are permanent residents of a Schengen country can use their foreign passport as ID and for departure (assuming any transit and destination counties are fine with the foreign passport user using a soon-expiring passport for transit/entry) until and unless the passport expires or is otherwise invalidated by the passport-issuing authority.
Dec 20, 2015, 4:46 pm
#15
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Entering France December 25th / May 3rd expiration
My father has trip planned from NYC to Paris on Christmas. His passport expires on May 3rd, 2016. Will he encounter issues? If so, does anyone know whether it's possible to get this renewed?