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Post by kevb on Aug 23, 2021 12:58:18 GMT
Thought we had it all covered then in the final run up to the holiday it looks like mum's passport is now NOT valid for the full time we are on the island. She's desperately trying to get firm clarification from the passport office helpline but the first person she spoke to wasn't particularly helpful. It looks like whoever did the passport issue 10 yrs ago has for some reason knocked 4 or 5 days off the full 10 years. Then with the change in rule post Brexit making the end dates misleading we thought she still had 7 months left but it turns out she is actually just the 4 or 5 days short of the minimum requirement. There is no way of getting an emergency replacement in time so unless someone shows a bit of compassion (there would have been lots of people getting caught out by this if the numbers booking holidays hadn't fallen so low) the only option would be if she flies out with me as planned from EMA on Friday but then gets a separate one way ticket back a week earlier than me. It would have to be to Manchester so that's more expense into the bargain. I'm trying to sort out what I can but I'm very busy at work this week. It's a mess :-( I might not be posting much until I get to Skiathos at this rate so sorry if it all goes a bit quiet from me.
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Post by balddave on Aug 23, 2021 15:44:39 GMT
The combination of covid rules coupled with post brexit regulations appears to be causing a lot of issues to many people. I hope you get your mum’s passport sorted Kev so you can both enjoy the full extent of your holiday
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Post by cariad23 on Aug 23, 2021 16:12:13 GMT
check gov website you can enter your passport number it tells you when valid to. its three months left for greece exit date ,not 6. i read somewhere i cant remember where.
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Post by yorkshiremouth on Aug 23, 2021 17:13:31 GMT
I hope everything gets sorted - good luck.
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Post by katet on Aug 24, 2021 6:32:32 GMT
Oh no 😱. But better now, Kev, than to get refused at the airport ☹️
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Post by cravenleigh on Aug 24, 2021 7:36:47 GMT
The following was taken from the www.gov.uk website this morning with regard to the specific entry requirements for Greece: Passport validity Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip, and renew your passport if you do not have enough time left on it. Make sure your passport is: valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave Greece, or any other Schengen country less than 10 years old The 3 months you need when leaving a country must be within 10 years of the passport issue date. If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the minimum 3 months needed. I think your mother should be okay. Best wishes for a great holiday!
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Post by cariad23 on Aug 24, 2021 8:30:18 GMT
That’s what I was referring to thanks
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Post by kevb on Aug 24, 2021 9:36:10 GMT
We are just going to go to the airport and hope for the best. The UK Gov site is confusing as it also gives 6 months minimum in general as well as the 3 months relating to Greece. The person on the helpline was pretty hopeless and when mum rang again the second person wouldnt give her the relevant information at all. All we can do is go and be prepared for her to be potentially turned away and have to go home or be allowed under the proviso she comes back on the 3rd Sep which means she would still be within the 6 month rule but we would then have to buy her a return ticket while out there or at the airport before we left if they insisted. This is a passport with an expiry date of March 2022! I bet loads of people would be turning up with a written expiry date like that thinking they had loads of time left on it. They don't.
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Post by cariad23 on Aug 24, 2021 18:00:08 GMT
you will be fine Kev , they will let you in with three months, and they certainly wont force you to leave early. Your mum doesnt need a specific time left to re enter the united kingdom her birthplace its no loner eu. They wont refuse her entry. stop worrying and start looking forward to your holiday.
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Post by kevb on Aug 24, 2021 21:42:50 GMT
Thanks for all the good wishes. I did look at all the info on the Gov. Uk site before posting honestly. I also filled in the questionnaire type bit where you can specify which country and put in the passport details. When I did this I got back a red banner saying 'We recommend you renew your passport'. Whats that supposed to mean 'recommend'? What you really want is a reply telling you your passport is still valid for that destination or not on the relevant dates.
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