Question about Non-Schengen to Schengen passport validity

My sister has tickets to visit me in Sweden from the USA in a few weeks and has just realized that her passport expires in March 2017. Schengen laws require a passport has to be valid 3 months after departure date, which is fine for visiting Sweden, but she has to connect in the Netherlands at Schiphol airport, which requires at least 6-months validity.

From what I can find, it's the destination country that decides the validity, right? She isn't actually stopping in The Netherlands, only passing through the airport. Schiphol is listed as a Schengen airport, so which law trumps the other? We're trying to figure out if she needs to drive a whole day to get a 1-day passport renewal or if she'll be able to get through Schiphol into Sweden which accepts her passport without issue.

I appreciate anyone who can enlighten me further. Thanks!

Best Answer

Sweden and The Netherlands are both in the Schengen area and follow its common rules, the Schengen Borders Code, according to which the requirement a traveler must satisfy is that

(Art 6.1.a) they are in possession of a valid travel document entitling the holder to cross the border satisfying the following criteria:
(i) its validity shall extend at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States. In a justified case of emergency, this obligation may be waived;
(ii) it shall have been issued within the previous 10 years;

There doesn't seem to be any provision for the Netherlands to require a longer period of validity than these three months.

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Do they check passport between Schengen countries?

Any person, irrespective of nationality, can travel between Schengen countries without going through border checks. However, national authorities can carry out police checks at borders between these countries and in border areas.

Can you stay in Europe for more than 3 months after Brexit?

Now that the UK is outside the EU, British passport holders can stay for a maximum of 90 days per 180-day period. UK passport holders can cross an external EU border using just a valid passport and stay anywhere in the Schengen Area for up to 3 months.

How many months minimum validity is there for a Schengen visa?

a) All Schengen Visas are valid for 90 days within a 180-day period: This means you can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days on a Schengen visa. It does NOT mean you can stay in the Schengen area for 180 days. Once you enter the Schengen area on your Schengen visa, you must leave after 90 days.

What is the Schengen 90 day rule?

Under the terms of Schengen, non-EEA nationals cannot spend more than a total of 90 days within a total period of 180 days without a visa. Furthermore, once you've used up your quota of 90 days, you cannot return to Schengen until 90 more days have passed.

Travelling to Schengen? Check your passport against validity requirements

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