Passport Expired In Less Than 6 Months

[Earnz]

So I am currently going to school in the US and going home this summer which is next month. The thing is that my passport is going to expire in september and that makes it 4 months form when I will travel. My flight will layover in Korea so I was wondering if it's going to be ok? My family plan on having a trip there before I go home but I don't know if they will let me in to Korea or not. I know we don't need the visa, but does it have to be more than 6 months? even if I am travelling from the US?

If the case is that I really need the passport that valid over 6 months, then do you think I can get it in time before May 12? I live in Urbana, IL so I'll have to go to Chicago. I heard they don't have express service.. Is there nothing I can do to get my new passport fast enough?

I forgot to mention earlier that I am Thai, and I am going back to Thailand.

Edited April 7, 2012 by Earnz

[7by7]

What nationality are you; where is home?

[Earnz]

Sorry I forgot to mention, I'm Thai

[7by7]

Topic title amended to show nationality.

You will certainly not have a problem entering Thailand, even if your passport had expired you're a Thai citizen and so would be allowed in.

Not sure about Korea; will you be staying airside? If so, I don't see a problem. But if you have to pass through Korean immigration, I'm not sure.

[Sophon]

It doesn't look like you should have any problems, this is what the IATA database sayd about visa and passport validity:

National Thailand (TH)

Destination Korea (Rep. of) (KR)

Korea (Rep. of) (KR) Passport required. - Passport and/or passport replacing documents must be valid on arrival.

So even if Korea were your final destination, it would seem that your passport just has to be valid when you arrive.

Sophon

Edited April 7, 2012 by Sophon

[MsClueless]

And when going to uk? Also need passport valid for six more months?

I dont understand the rules. Why make passport five years if we can only use for 4.5years?

Edited April 7, 2012 by MsClueless

[7by7]

The UK immigration rules merely say that a person seeking entry to the UK should have a valid passport, no minimum period of validity is mentioned.

[MsClueless]

Thank you

And I can come back to Thailand even if less six months left on passport

[7by7]

If you're a Thai citizen, yes.

[Sophon]

The UK immigration rules merely say that a person seeking entry to the UK should have a valid passport, no minimum period of validity is mentioned.

That's not what the IATA database says (at least not exactly):

National Thailand (TH)

Destination United Kingdom (GB)

United Kingdom (GB) Passport required. - Passport and/or passport replacing documents must be valid for the period of intended stay.

So your passport must be valid for the entire period of the intended stay.

Sophon

[7by7]

I cannot find anywhere in the UK immigration rules, immigration directorate instructions, entry clearance guidance or guidance for applicants which says this; they all simply say 'valid.'

However, whilst apparently not an official rule, you and the IATA database are probably correct to say that someone seeking entry to the UK as a visitor or applying for a visit visa may have problems if their passport was not valid for the length of their stay. So renewing it beforehand if there is less validity than this remaining would be a wise precaution.

Not sure about other non settlement visas, such as a student, though.

Obviously, if seeking entry to settle or applying for a settlement visa the intention is to remain in the UK indefinitely, if not permanently, so this would not be an issue, and one would be able to renew one's passport at one's home embassy in the UK when required.

[MsClueless]

I will stay only two or three weeks.

When I leave I will be have about six months left on passport.

Eg. Passport expire 12 dec

I will leave uk 14 June

Is ok?

[7by7]

Is ok, no problem.

[MsClueless]

Thank you

[SlyAnimal]

I would probably check it out more if I were you.

Maybe call the airline just to be sure on their policy, as although Korea are probably ok with it, the airline might not want to. As they probably get fined if there are any problems with immigration, and if in doubt they will probably err on the side of caution.

Hopefully your stopover in Korea isn't long, so you can just hang out in the transfer lounge rather than having to clear Korean immigration

Edited April 10, 2012 by SlyAnimal

[overherebc]

I would probably check it out more if I were you.

Maybe call the airline just to be sure on their policy, as although Korea are probably ok with it, the airline might not want to. As they probably get fined if there are any problems with immigration, and if in doubt they will probably err on the side of caution.

Hopefully your stopover in Korea isn't long, so you can just hang out in the transfer lounge rather than having to clear Korean immigration

Air Asia refused my wifes booking for a weeks holiday in Malaysia only last month as her passport had less than 6 months remaining, she got a new passport in a couple of days and we had no problems. Purely an Airline policy.

Not sure about any other airline. As you say best to check first rather than be upset later.

[Mario2008]

Not an airline policy. Airlines are required to check if they passengers meet the entry requirements, otherwise they can be fined and have to return to passenger to the point of origin.

For a lot of countries the requirement is to hav at least 6 month validity on the passprot, others ask for 3 months and increasingly ountires only ask for a validity of the passprot for the duration of the intended stay.