Passport advice for school tours
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Does my passport need to be valid for 6 months when I travel?
Some countries will not let you enter if your passport has less than six months left to run. The rules vary by country. For example, South African immigration officials turn back people with fewer than two blank pages left in their passport.
If your passport is in its last year or is nearly full, you should check the rules of the country you plan to visit before booking any travel. You can ask your travel agent or contact the UK embassy or consulate of the country concerned.
FCO information for France
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All British passport holders require a valid passport. There is no minimum passport validity requirement but you should ensure that your passport is valid for the proposed period of your stay.
FCO information for Germany
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British nationals must enter Germany with a valid passport.
FCO information for Spain
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A valid British passport must be held for entry to and exit from Spain. There is no minimum passport validity requirement but you should ensure that your passport is valid for the proposed period of your stay.
FCO information for Netherlands
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All British passport holders require a valid passport to enter the Netherlands.
FCO information for Belgium
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Your passport should be valid for at least six months.
FCO information for Italy
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Please ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your stay in Italy
FCO information for Austria
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You must hold a valid British passport to enter Austria. EU citizens can travel to Austria up to the expiry date of their passports. Other citizens need at least three months’ validity.
FCO information for Poland
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British citizens crossing the Polish border do not need visas and can cross the border and stay in Poland using a valid British passport. There is no requirement that you have 6 months' validity left on your passport when you enter Poland. However your passport must be valid for the full duration of your stay in Poland.
British citizens may only be refused entry in to the territory of the Republic of Poland on grounds of public health policy, public security and of a threat to the state security and defence.
FCO information for Czech Republic
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If you are a short-term visitor to the Czech Republic, the Czech authorities require British passports to be valid for the entire duration of your proposed visit. You should have a minimum of six months’ validity on the passport when you travel in case of unforeseen emergency such as illness or arrest, which prevents you from leaving on your planned dates. If your passport is due to expire in less than six months, it is advisable to have your onward travel details with you on arrival to show to the Immigration Office if required to do so.
If arriving by air, remember to double check that you have your passport with you before leaving the aircraft. The immigration authorities will not normally allow entry to passengers who have mislaid their passport and the British Embassy is unable to issue documentation to enable passengers to enter the Czech Republic. Your passport should also be in a presentable state. Holders of passports which are in poor condition have been refused entry to the Czech Republic.
Useful Links:
http://www.ips.gov.uk/passport/travel-tips.asp
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1098377476175
(Disclaimer: This information is correct to the best of our knowledge. It is your responsibility to ensure you have a valid passport before travelling.)