Was I incorrectly denied boarding due to passport extensions?
I was supposed to be travelling to Norway from the UK for work this week from Stansted Airport by RyanAir, but was denied boarding at the gate. The reason given was that my passport, which has a stated expiration date in November 2022, becomes 10 years old in May 2022, less than 3 months from today, let alone my date of departure, and that since Brexit, extensions beyond the 10 years are no longer recognised.
After an exciting tour of the staff corridors zig-zagging between arrivals and departures on my way out, I was doing some googling, I came across this UK government site.
Which includes the following statement:
Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:
- less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
- valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
These requirements are unambiguously met by my passport.
It then goes on to say:
We are asking the European Commission to clarify the 10-year rule. Their guidance for Schengen border guards may not be updated until the spring of 2022. Until then, for some Schengen countries your passport may need to be less than 10 years old during your whole visit, and the 3 months at the end of your visit may need to be within 10 years of your passport’s issue date.
Which seems to suggest that the above rules are not, in fact, sufficient to be granted entrance.
Does anyone have up to date info about whether I should have been allowed to board, and/or if I have any recourse with RyanAir?
Best Answer
Latest from the EU Commission on passport validity - European Commission - "The conditions set out in article 6(1)(a) of the Schengen Borders code (i.e. that the passport's validity shall extend at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Member States territory, and that that the passport shall have been issued within the previous 10 years) must both be complied with at the moment of entry. "The condition that the passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years does not extend for the duration of the intended stay. It is enough if this condition is fulfilled at the moment of entry. "To give a practical example, a non-EU traveller arriving on 1 December 2021 for a 20 days stay in the EU with a passport issued on 2 December 2011 and valid until 2 April 2022 will be allowed entry."
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What happens if you travel without a passport?
In most countries, you can travel anywhere within your nation's borders without a passport. The only exception is when you leave your home country to enter a foreign nation. However, even if you travel nationally, you will always need photo ID, such as a driver's license or National ID card to board a flight.How long do I need on my passport to travel to Turkey?
If you are visiting Turkey, your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date you arrive and there should be a full blank page for the entry and exit stamps.Can you travel on an expired passport UK?
The short answer is no, and the only way travellers happen to get through airport security with an expired or about to be expired British passport is by pure chance due to an inadequate security system.Which countries do not require 6 months of passport validity?
While most countries such as Australia, Canada and the USA, just need your passport to be valid for the length of your stay, other countries such as China, Thailand, Egypt and Turkey need at least six months. Always check the specific entry requirements for the country you are visiting on the GOV.UK website.Things that will get your Passport Application Denied: Passport Kings Travel Video
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