TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Passport expiring in May, trip in Late March

HI all, I know this has been a topic in the past but I need some actual facts. One of our group for our March 24th trip has a passport expiring in May this year. She did not think it was an issue so just mentioned it but I told her I would get some clarification on this. Has anyone ACTUALLY ever had an issue with a passport that will be expiring with in 6 months of travel or is that an "old wives tale"?.....she doesn't want to risk sending it in if she doesn't have to, we are officially about 7 weeks out and the website says 6-9 weeks ......thanks!!

We have traveled with passports expiring within the 6 month period before. I actually had never heard that rumor at the time and so never even thought about it. And it was my kids' passport so if ever they wanted to crack down that would have been the time.
As per the "rules", the passport has to be valid for the duration of your stay (duh) but residents must have passports that are valid 3 months past entry.
I would not risk sending the passport away for a new one. Our one passport renewal last year took about 7 weeks with expedited. I cut it very close.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/british-virgin-islands/entry-requirements

Laura I looked into it and it seems to be "an old wives tale"( Is that politcally correct these days?). Tell her not to send her passport away but renew it as soon as she gets back.

I had AA, at the counter in MIA, try to hold me up b/c they thought my passport was going to expire 4 months. I was traveling to St. Lucia. That being said the counter agent wasnt very good at math and my expiration date was 2 years and 4 months.

Many countries do indeed have the 6 month rule. The BVI does not. The problem however can be a gate agent who does not understand the rules however if you are flying into STT it’s irrelevant since a passport is not required and the ferry companies know the rules.

“You will need a valid passport, with validity covering the proposed duration of your stay to enter or travel through the British Virgin Islands as a visitor. See below for further information on travel documentation.

Entry to the BVI by air is through the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, Taddy Bay International Airport and Auguste George Airport. You can enter by sea through the Road Town Jetty; Soper’s Hole Dock, West End; Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke or Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda.”

I bow to George's much better knowledge as I was told it was worldwide...anyway she will be fine. Hope you have some time with the whole crew at CRC just leave me a litle beer and wine!!!

hahaha Malcolm ...of course! even some extra!

Thanks all, I did also find a FB thread about it as well reaffirming the same https://www.facebook.com/groups/1266848426813237/permalink/2100654033432668/


I'm going to screen shot this from the website so we have it just in case! https://bvi.gov.vg/travel-protocols

As George said it can very much be up to a ticket or gate agent.

Good friend of mine, family of six, three generations, were denied boarding by JetBlue earlier last summer in Fort Lauderdale. Destination: Turks and Caicos. Ticket counter agent flat refused to issue a boarding pass of one of the grandmothers when her valid passport had five months left before expiration even though it was a six night stay with confirmed returni ticket.

No chance that she would overstay a vacation trip with family! But guess who had the final stay. They had driven five hours that morning to FLL. They couldn’t just leave her there, so all returned home, trip ruined.

I wouldn’t take the chance of losing thousands of dollars based on a <$20/hour employee's interpretation of a foreign countries's rules.

Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Turks and Caicos. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Turks and Caicos.

Yup, expensive lesson learned by my friends.

The point is that the BVI does NOT have this requirement.

And the point is that EACH country can have a different rule!! Make sure you know the rule for the country where you are going.