Opinions ref. passport 6 month validity?

B

Bunnyboileravoider

Member
I was about to book my ferry for Thursday (road trip), and then checked my passport's expiration date. It's 05 Jan 2022 - i.e. a week past the 6 month remaining validity period.

So the question is simple: would you...? Or wouldn't you, take the chance?

Official sites send off warning flares and sirens - whoop, whoop, alert, alert etc. - but I'm rolling my eyes. Would 'most people' (in this case, I'm asking you, my online Z4 forum friends), think it's irresponsible to go ahead knowing the above? Or am I overthinking it? In full disclosure, I have got a bit of a history for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I just can't see this one as being a real issue...is it?

FWIW, travelling solo over 20 days through France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia/Herz, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Czech, DE, NL, Belgium.
 
The way the French hate the English, I'd not risk it...as you may get to the immigration desk at the ferry port and be turned away.

Also, whilst you've forgotten about the latest passport restrictions, have you also forgotten to check anything else"
  • Have you made sure you can drive into/through each of the countries you're visiting?
  • Have you checked every local restriction?
  • Are you planning to spend a week in each location and get multiple PCR tests to prove you're 'clean'?
  • Have you got your PHYSICAL COVID passport/certificate (the app version is not enough in some cases)?
  • Have you got all the required emissions 'vignettes' for each country/town?
  • have you got your new UK (not GB) sticker for the car?
 
Mmm is correct, You are at the mercy of passport control of the country you are entering as most of them set a 6 month limit, you may get a guy who just looks at your pic and ushers you through , or a miserable jobsworth who will put you on the first boat back or refuse entry..not worth the risk
 
Makes you ask why have a passport valid for 10 years, when it is effectively only valid for 9.5. :roll:

Yet another way of squeezing a little more money out of each of us and employing all those lovely civil servants. :wink:
 
Brilliant comments (unsurprisingly, in this forum I've come to realise). Thank you.

I think you're all correct. And like I say, I do have a track record. The Daily Mail said a few years back: "no-one will go on holiday with this guy"... :cry:

You've confirmed what I thought (but didn't want to acknowledge), i.e. 'petit policier' en France + bent Bratislava border force + me = opportunity for aggro., which I can avoid rather than tempt.

Thanks all of you. :headbang:
 
mmm-five said:
The way the French hate the English, I'd not risk it...as you may get to the immigration desk at the ferry port and be turned away.

Also, whilst you've forgotten about the latest passport restrictions, have you also forgotten to check anything else"
  • Have you made sure you can drive into/through each of the countries you're visiting?
  • Have you checked every local restriction?
  • Are you planning to spend a week in each location and get multiple PCR tests to prove you're 'clean'?
  • Have you got your PHYSICAL COVID passport/certificate (the app version is not enough in some cases)?
  • Have you got all the required emissions 'vignettes' for each country/town?
  • have you got your new UK (not GB) sticker for the car?
Click to expand...

PS - thanks mmm-five. Most of these I've checked off as 'complete', but the one about UK and not GB is new to me! FFS - back to the admin. exploiters on Amazon :rofl: Cheers

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/gb-car-sticker-to-be-replaced-by-new-uk-version/
 
mmm-five said:
[*]have you got your new UK (not GB) sticker for the car?[/list]
Click to expand...

That was a new one for me :rofl:

Fortunately, with my European passport they feel sorry for me driving a UK car :lol:

Have allocated enough time to collect my European vaccine passport as well, that way I can travel between all contries without any PCR tests.
 
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