Passport will have under 6 months when returning to the uk

[jimyoung]

Hi,

 

My Thai wife and stepson are living with me in England, (Currently at FLR stage of visa) we’re travelling to Thailand on the 26th July and returning to the uk on the 23rd August.

Their passports expire on the 10th February 2019 meaning their validity will go under 6 months whilst we are in Thailand.

Will they be able to travel back to the uk on these passports? Or do they need to renew them before we go/whilst in Thailand?

 

Thanks for any advice, James

 

 

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[theoldgit]

It's not a requirement to have six months remaining on a passport when entering the UK.

 

The only thing I would say is it's far easier, and cheaper, to renew a passport in Thailand, it takes about a week. 

 

What I don't know is if the Biometric Residence Permit is linked to your passport, I'm pretty sure it's linked to the holder so should be able to be used instead of a visa when flying and at the UK Border.

[TSF]

James, I just dealt with this issue with my TGF's passport on a recent trip to Australia. Initially I wanted to book the return flight back to BKK when her Thai passport would have 5 months validity left. I asked the airline (AirAsia) and they said the rule is the passenger's passport must have 6 months validity because some countries require the incoming passenger to have 6 months. I said that Thai immigration officials at Don Muang are not going to refuse a Thai to come back into Thailand because their passport has less than 6 months validity, but AirAsia just replied that it's company policy, and they probably won't allow her to board the flight. So I had to change our travel plans and we flew back to BKK 2 days before my TGF's passport reached the 6 months left date.

[theoldgit]

James, I just dealt with this issue with my TGF's passport on a recent trip to Australia. Initially I wanted to book the return flight back to BKK when her Thai passport would have 5 months validity left. I asked the airline (AirAsia) and they said the rule is the passenger's passport must have 6 months validity because some countries require the incoming passenger to have 6 months. I said that Thai immigration officials at Don Muang are not going to refuse a Thai to come back into Thailand because their passport has less than 6 months validity, but AirAsia just replied that it's company policy, and they probably won't allow her to board the flight. So I had to change our travel plans and we flew back to BKK 2 days before my TGF's passport reached the 6 months left date.

Yes, that's Air Asia company policy, I assume because they don't train their staff into the requirements of each country they fly to, they don't fly to the UK.

[jimyoung]

I’m flying with Thai Airways


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[jimyoung]

So they shouldn’t have any trouble leaving the uk or getting in to Thailand as there is over 6 months validity on the passports?


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[theoldgit]

No, they could actually enter Thailand on an expired Thai passport, whilst a passport can expire, your citizenship doesn’t.