I am planning a long weekend trip which will involve driving from the UK into France, maybe Belgium, and briefly into Germany. My current UK passport expires in May this year - is there a minimum I need left on my passport to travel?

I've scoured the passport pages at direct.gov.uk and ips.gov.uk and cannot find anything.

Thanks.

Simon

I have the same issue with my son this summer. Short of phoning them, we don't know. The websites do not seem to give a conclusive answer regarding travel within the EU. Friends who work in travel seem to think that it is only some countries that are external to the EU which require a passport to have more than 6 months left before its expiry.

We are going to renew anyway.

Anyone know?

EU passports may still be used within the EU for a certain time after expiration, usually 5 years.

The chances are no one will eve look at your passport in any case, but a valid passport or ID card is a required for entry into the UK, so as long as it is valid until you return you will be fine.

Don't forget your green card and EHIC as well!

Hi Simon
We had the same problem with my husband's passport and going to Portugal. On checking the requirements for Portugal on the FCO site http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-...country/europe I found the following statement
"You need a valid British passport for entry to and exit from Portugal. There is no minimum passport validity requirement but you should ensure that your passport is valid for the proposed period of your stay."
I suggest that to be certain you check for each country you are likely to enter.

"I suggest that to be certain you check for each country you are likely to enter"

Spiral : the situation is very different when driving as opposed to flying. The airports require passorts as proof of identity which is a security issue. When driving over many borders in the EU there are no border controls on the motorways.

"is there a minimum I need left on my passport to travel?"

Absolutely not.

As a citizen of an EU nation you have an absolute right to travel to any other EU state whenever you wish.

AS a British citizen, though, your only way of proving your status is your passport - so you must have one. But any EU state that imposes this "minimum 6 months validity" nonsense cannot, by treaty impose it on us.

You may use your passport till the last second of its validity. Kerouac MIGHT be right about using it beyond - but you'd get GBH of the earhole from the UK people at Calais about it. They can't keep you out, though.

You DON'T need a green card anymore for driving within the EU. Your passport almost certainly WILL be examined by UK officials at Calais - though possibly not by the French at Dover and certainly not when crossing borders into Germany or Belgium. You DO need your EHIC. It's HIGHLY asdvisable to check the country pages on the AA site for odd laws (like having hi-vis jackets inside the car) the continental countries you're visiting might have invented since you were last there. Police in the Pas de CAlais area occasionally single us out for the fun of fining us (and, I bet, taking a commission) for failing to know about last year's new rules on spare spectacles or emergency triangle.

Good thinking flanner - we get a green card as our insurance document which is why I mentioned it.
For France everyone in the vehicle must have a hi-vis jacket, and for Belgium you must have a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher. (We never have though when we drive through ).

You will need to check if any of the towns in Germany you will be visiting need an environment sticker and get that before you leave- the AA or RAC undoubtedly can help with that.

Guys - brilliant, thank you so much.

Is it France that requires at least one high-vis tabard to be accessible by the driver before getting out of the car? The others can be kept in the boot, but not the driver's one.

Is there still a requirement about spare bulbs, even though in some cars the bulbs can only be replaced by a mechanic or a trained primate with very small fingers?

Here are the official rules for members of the Council of Europe. Scroll down to "appendix" for the rules country by country:
http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/EN...s/Html/025.htm

"Is it France that requires at least one high-vis tabard to be accessible by the driver before getting out of the car? The others can be kept in the boot, but not the driver's one."

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/

Only one required but you do need a reflective triangle.

"Is it France that requires at least one high-vis tabard to be accessible by the driver before getting out of the car?"

Spain as well.

However, in most rental cars, you will find that stuff in the trunk.