Entering Malta on August 30, 2019. State Dept. says Malta requires that your passport must be good for 90 days from the date you depart from there. I will be leaving Malta for home on October 7. My passport will expire on January 11, 2020. So, I'm ok.
However, in the middle of this time period, I want to fly to Sicily for 16 days. The information I've seen about Italy is that they require your passport to be good six months after you leave them, so could they deny me admission? Also read that according to the EU Schengen rules, you go through immigration only once for all 26 countries. Question: Anyone know what will happen at the immigration control in Sicily, or, since I entered the Schengren area in Malta, will that give me a green light under Malta's rules since my final departure from the EU will be from there.
I don't really want to get a new passport until 2020. I'm old and the dates l0, 20, 30 are easier to remember. Thank you!!!
Posted by
Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico
1941 posts
I absolutely would not risk my vacation being canceled because my passport was close to expiring.
It's very possible that when you arrive at the airport to depart on your trip, they will see that your passport expires in less than six months and will not even let you get on the plane. (The airline might do that because they know sometimes you can be denied entry in that situation, and then they will be stuck flying you back home.)
It's your vacation, though, and if the 2030 expiration date matters more than the potential of your vacation being canceled at the last minute, go for it.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7264 posts
Ditto what Lane said. I’d get the new passport just to be certain.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2608 posts
You should have 6 months validity on your passport from your date of entry into the Schengen. This means you can stay up to 3 months then have 3 months left on your passport when you leave (3+3).
Even though you are staying less than 3 months, immigration takes the view that once you're admitted you can change your mind and decide to stay the full 3 months, which is why they ask for six months validity.
There are no immigration controls between Malta and Italy.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8187 posts
Let's maybe make this easy. Are you flying from the US to Malta basically at the end of August?
If so, do not worry about what Malta might require or your trip to Sicily, just contact your airline and give them the dates. They will tell you whether they will even let you board the flight. If they do not let you board, then Malta's vs Siciliy's vs any other rules are moot, you will never be there to try them out.
You are within 6 months, or also considered as less than six months from return date, so better check with the Airline.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11831 posts
The airline is your problem. How will the gate agent read interpret whether or not your passport is valid? It is the airline that decides if you board the outbound flight from the US and they may not let you board if they believe (or interpret) that you do not meet the minimum requirements. Risk your trip for that? I sure would not. I actually like to renew when I am within a year of expiration. Small price to pay to ensure I am always ready to go and one never knows when there will be a processing slowdown at Dept of State. Some people got caught in a couple of years ago. Waiting until,the last minute has a price.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23652 posts
The bottom line is maybe yes, maybe no. If it is no, your down side risk is huge. Why chance it??? Do you like gambling??? Then do it. Personally I would get it renewed. You have plenty of time. We always get our passports renewed around the six month mark. Just do it !!!!
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12029 posts
As Laurel said its the gate agent that you have to get past in August that is critical. You may call the airline now but the gate agent is not going to care when you say " I called in March and they said...."
I vote with the 'get it renewed before you go' coalition
Posted by
Freedonia
16533 posts
Am I missing something but both Malta and Italy are Schengen. So if you enters Schengen at Malta and has no problem, why would he have a problem entering Italy? There should be no immigration in Sicily.
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
Where are entering Malta from? It would seem to me that you will have to enter some some other Schengen country. I don't think there are many direct flights to Malta from North America. So that means you are likely to enter Schengen in Italy, then get a flight to Malta. Then you may be subject to Italian rules. But that really doesn't matter, as it will be up to the "thoroughly" trained gate agent whether you get on the plane to begin with.
Make your life easy and renew you passport now. If you are so old that you are afraid you won't remember to renew it in 2029, you might be to far gone already:-)
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Flight departs from Miami, stopping for a short layover in Istanbul. From Istanbul (not Schengren), I fly into Malta.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34198 posts
When you are searching for good information about Schengen, spelling correctly will help. There is no "r".
Wouldn't have mentioned it but you've spelled it that way twice now...
Posted by
Chicago
2062 posts
Just get a new passport. If my parents in their late 70s can look at their passports and renew them, you can too. Enjoy your trip.