6 Months Passport Validity

[DrA]

So, I was just reading this article in the SMH about why we need 6 months validity on our passports to enter most countries...

To my total surprise the SMH didn't really have an answer to the question they posed.

Does anybody here actually know of a genuine reason for this policy?

My passports never last 10 years because I always run out of pages long before that, so it's never something I've given much thought to before.

 

[Kieran2274]

So, I was just reading this article in the SMH about why we need 6 months validity on our passports to enter most countries...

To my total surprise the SMH didn't really have an answer to the question they posed.

Does anybody here actually know of a genuine reason for this policy?

My passports never last 10 years because I always run out of pages long before that, so it's never something I've given much thought to before.

The six-months validity rule is one often imposed by other countries (on FNs entering) and really has to do with ensuring you don't have your exit held up (assumption being for those on simple travel visas/exemptions, even if delayed by act of god, accident etc, it'll rarely be for greater than six months). Sure, you can get a passport or papers issued overseas, but it's often complicated and thus why they like you having ample time left on your passport to cover all events (except loss or theft).

 

[DrA]

That's what I assumed, kind of common sense. But then I wondered if it was just too simple an explanation when I was reading that article.

 

[RooFlyer]

Its the Sydney Morning Herald.

Lucky no-one told them about concurrent passports, which only have validity for 2 years!

 

[DrA]

Its the Sydney Morning Herald.

That it abbreviates to SMH has always caused me much amusement

 

[vitagen]

I don't understand the validity of passports, if it expires at a certain date... It expires at a certain date.

This 6 months bs doesn't make sense, if it expires 6 months earlier than the date then its not really the expiry date?

 

[Kieran2274]

I don't understand the validity of passports, if it expires at a certain date... It expires at a certain date.

This 6 months bs doesn't make sense, if it expires 6 months earlier than the date then its not really the expiry date?

Yes, it's expiry creep and it's not fully logical, but then that's never been a pre-requisite for C&I rules.

 

[Austman]

Many countries issue 5 year passports which are effectively 4.5 year passports, so Australia isn't too bad in this regard!

 

[Austman]

Mind you - it's perfectly legal to return home to Australia with 1 day left before your Australian passport expires!

(in reality it's legal to return home without a passport at all but that creates logistical and other problems)

 

[RooFlyer]

I don't understand the validity of passports, if it expires at a certain date... It expires at a certain date.

This 6 months bs doesn't make sense, if it expires 6 months earlier than the date then its not really the expiry date?

As explained above - the issue isn't the actual passport, or its actual expiry, but as far as a foreign country is concerned, will you have valid travel documents to then LEAVE their country?

If you enter South Africa with a 'valid' passport - but it expires the next day, they can sorta tell that its going to create issues if you then want to fly onto, say Morocco, a week later. You will be stuck in their country while you sort it out; you may run out of funds and be a PITA for them. While you might be confident of getting a new passport, they simply don't want the hassle. So they blanket stipulate 'everyone' needs 6 months validity to their passport before they let anyone (or most foreigners) in.

I'm pretty sure there are a number of countries that don't enforce the 6 months rule (can't think of them right now), so your passport does have function in its declining days.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>

(in reality it's legal to return home without a passport at all but that creates logistical and other problems)

Yes. Note quite the same situation, but a favourite story of mine: Canadian friend for some reason was being given grief by a Canadian immigration officer when coming back from Europe. He just stared down the guy and said "I don't care. I'm a Canadian citizen. Look at the passport. Let me in."

They did.

 

[equus]

I'm pretty sure there are a number of countries that don't enforce the 6 months rule (can't think of them right now), so your passport does have function in its declining days.

For an Australian passport holder - Hong Kong to name one.

 

[Buzzard]

I'm pretty sure there are a number of countries that don't enforce the 6 months rule (can't think of them right now), so your passport does have function in its declining days.

For an Australian passport holder - Hong Kong to name one.

New Zealand is another for AUS passport holders.

If you hold a valid British Passport (not yet expired) that you are renewing, they will add up to 9 months extra validity so you can end up with a passport valid for 10 years and 9 months.

 

[Austman]

If you hold an EU passport, even expired, but are still an EU citizen, you can enter the EU. I checked this out on my last trip. It probably will not be simple but that's the general rule - a citizen can always return to their country of citizenship. Mind you an airline might not be so happy to take you there!

 

[travelislife]

It's a poorly researched and worded article. The six month restriction depends on the country you are travelling to, not the passport issuing country. Airlines refer to the TIMATIC system to verify requirements.

That's why I don't get some of the comments, Thailand does not require 6 months, just that the passport is valid for the duration of your trip.

Unfortunately at times unless you know your rights I think airline check in staff just go off the top of their head. I have had multiple times (travelling one way to the US etc, but with appropriate visa) when check in staff have flat out said you are not able to travel. Annoying (and slightly scary in the power they have at the time to deny check in) but I have to educate them and it all works out. We as travellers shouldn't have o do their job for them.

These types of articles and comments on them just goes to show how ignorant the general travelling public are which the media does no end to help.

 

[mark4217]

My passport doesn't expire until July but having multiple trips in between I didn't want to risk issues so I dropped into aust post last week and did the renewal. $440 for 10 years. 2 week turn around without a passport as they cut it. Next trip 4 weeks away so will be good to go for the rest of the year. Ie if you can renew before flights do it so no issues

 

[VHOEJ]

I have no issue with 6 months effectively not being valid but paying for the 6 months is a joke

 

[JohnK]

So effectively we get a 9.5 year passport.

I really do not see the issue entering a country with 3 months validity on my passport and a ticket out of there in 2 weeks time. Why 6 months?

 

[Austman]

So effectively we get a 9.5 year passport.

I really do not see the issue entering a country with 3 months validity on my passport and a ticket out of there in 2 weeks time. Why 6 months?

I agree. I think it's a line in the sand. How long do they reasonably expect you might stay before it becomes a problem?

I hate these things. It's harder to get a bus pass in Sweden than a passport! (not actually true - but almost actually true!).

(my point being that the world knows that a passport is really nothing exceptionally special when some countries can issue one on-the-spot, or almost).

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I can confirm both Japand and thailand do not require passports with 6 months validity. Both are for period of the trip only. This is despite some Australian government (and other government) websites insisting Thailand does require the 6 month validity. The rule actually changed a few years ago and it is very very slow to be updated. TIMATIC of course has the correct information for Thailand. I have travelled to both Thailand and Japan with just 2 months validity on my passport. No questions asked at all.