katey1971

Does anyone know the passport requirement for Ireland? Some countries require that your passport be valid for 6 months beyond the date of travel. Mine expires at 5 months. I don't want to get stuck in the renewal process- if I don't need it- and miss my trip. Thanks for your help.

PalenQ

you should ask the only definitive source on this - the Irish Consulate or Embassy in the US

Or Irish Tourist Board: 800-223-6470; 212-418-0800 www.tourismireland.com

CasaDelCipresso

They require 6 months...but...I think it is actually up the the airlines...they tried to stop me from getting on the plane to Ireland becasue mine was only valid for 5 1/2 months (!) but I eventually talked them into it...I wouldn't chance it though.

PalenQ

Casa makes a good point - call your airline - beacuse under cabotage rules if an airline lets a passenger on who does get turned away at the port of entry for lack of proper documentation - Ireland say - they have to pay to return that person to from whence they took off. Thus airlines check for valid passports, visas, etc. before they let you board.

katey1971

Thank you everyone- great advice. Just FYI. I talked to the Irish Tourist Board and they told me that the passport must be valid only through the length of the stay. I talked to the Consulate office in San Francisco and they said the passport must be valid 6 months from the date of departure from Ireland. I am defintely going with the information I got from the Consulate office and renew my passport- just to be safe. I will check with my airline as well- I am curious if I will get yet a different answer.

Jen

I'm guessing you got different answers because the tourist board is telling you the requirements to enter Ireland, and the consulate is teeling you the requirements for re-entering the U.S. Different countries often have different rules.

IrishEyes

Tourism Ireland aka Irish Tourist Board knows diddly about things like that. You would be surprised at how little they know about things in Ireland too. Go with the info from the embassy.

anchoress

IrishEyes, you are so right....Amazing country we live in....

kayd

Other countries' rules about extended passport validity have nothing to do with re-entry into the U.S. An American passport is valid for re-entry until it expires.