Will lack of time left on UK passport affect re-entry into France?

Reader Question: I have less than six months of validity on my British passport, but live in France permanently with a residency card. I have a trip back to the UK soon, will I be refused entry back into France because of how little time is left on my passport? I do not have time to get it renewed before then.

EU rules require visitors entering the bloc to have at least three months of validity on their passport after the date they are leaving the bloc. 

If you arrive without a determined exit date, this rises to six months (the maximum three months permitted for visa-free travel within the EU and then three months after). 

These rules can affect Britons, who may also be unaware that the EU does not accept passports over 10 years old, despite some British passports formerly being issued for almost 11 years in the case of early renewal.

Read more: Britons told to check passports as more people denied travel to EU

In your case, however, you are a resident in the EU and - similarly to an EU citizen -  exempt from the rules above.

To travel back into the bloc your passport just has to be valid on the date when you return.

In theory, you should not be affected, as long as you can show your carte de séjour to the authorities.

You mention that you do not have time to renew your passport, but will do so after the trip. 

We advise doing so as soon as possible, as without a valid passport you cannot travel internationally from France, even to certain other EU countries now that internal EU border checks are coming into force between France and its neighbours. 

Your passport will also be needed for certain formalities such as renewing a carte de séjour. 

Read more: Tourists, foreign residents: How France’s new Schengen border checks will work

You can renew a UK passport from France online – in fact this is the only way to do so from abroad, as it can no longer be done via an appointment at British embassies or consulates here.

Read our article below to find out how to do so. 

Read more: How do I renew my UK passport in France? Do I need an appointment?