In October I am traveling to Spain. In the RS guidebook on Spain it states that you may denied entry into certain European countries if your passport is due to expire within 3-6 months of your ticketed return date. My passport expires 4 months after my return. I was going to renew it now just be safe but with the "glitch" with the State Department's database, I decided not to renew now. Has anyone ever had problems when their passport was going to expire within 3-6 months of the return date?
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Passports need have 3 months validity in the Schengen Zone. You're current passport is good for Spain.
Posted by
Green Bay
21153 posts
What "glitch" are you referring to? I just got mine renewed and it took 3 weeks.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Here is the news story. You may have gotten your passport renewed prior to the problem.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/glitch-crashes-global-us-passport-visa-operations-24687832
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7937 posts
@Sam-a news report (on Rick's European Travel News last Thursday, 7/24) http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2024145643_apxuspassports.html also described the problem that had just come up.
@OP-with 4 months to go, you're fine. Years ago, before knowing The Rules, I headed to Europe with less than 3 months left on my passport. I was checked thru at the Airport from Denver to Sofia, Bulgaria, with a one night stopover in London. No one said anything leaving the US or arriving in London, but they wouldn't let me on the plane the next morning, indicating that Bulgaria wouldn't let me in. I already had a return plane ticket and wasn't going to stay that long, but Bulgaria required that 3-month cushion. So I got an updated passport at the U.S. Embassy in London and continued my journey, but it delayed the trip. Have a great time in Spain!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
With the rule being 3 months, you should be quite safe: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go.html.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thank you for your replies and information, this was very helpful.
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5837 posts
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/passport-rule-ruin-vacation-costing-thousands/story?id=24931436
Something about reciprocity. US requires 6 months of validity so some countries are applying the same to visiting Americans. The ABC report says that the State Dept travel advisory website identifies those countries.
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/spain-and-andorra.html
Spain VALIDITY: Must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area.
Posted by
Chicago
8553 posts
And just so people know -- you can renew several months early and get the unexpired time added to your passport validity time so this is something to take care of well in advance of the expiration of the passport.