Minimum passport validity for entering UK

[Dawie]

I've been searching the BIA website but I can't find any reference to what the minimum passport validity can be for a tourist to enter the UK.

A lot of countries say a passport has to be valid for at least 3 or 6 months after intended date of departure. Anyone have any idea what the time period is for the UK and evidence of this?

[vinny]

See also 6.6 - Issuing an entry clearance vignette or Certificate of Entitlement

Issuing an entry clearance vignette
The issuing officer should always ensure that an applicant’s passport has adequate validity, normally at least six months, and is issued by an authority recognised by the UK (see Chapter 4) before endorsing it with an entry clearance.

[Dawie]

What about non-visa nationals who don't require entry clearance, e.g. those arriving as tourists?

[vinny]

See also 4.1 The need for a passport or travel document and what constitutes one:

A bona fide passport or travel document should:

* contain photograph, name and date of birth of holder;
* state the holder’s nationality (or disclaimer if holder is stateless or of undetermined nationality);
* be valid for travel to the UK;
* be valid for long enough to cover length of intended stay in the United Kingdom.

[SunBlue]

My passport was going to expiry on the 2nd of October and in the end of August (August Bank holiday) I went to Germany and came back to the UK with no problems. They didn´t even ask about it! I am Brazilian and have a residence card.

I just made a new passport. And this week I came back from Brazil via Paris and something strange happened. I passed the immigration (and entered France) and after a couple of hours later I left France to come to the UK. The problem is that it was the 09/10/07 and when I ENTERED France they stamped 11/10/07, and when I left the guy looked my passporte, scanned it, paid a bit attention, hehe, and said it was alright and stamped the exit stamp with the correct date 09/10/07.

I hope it won't be a problem in the future. I will keep the boarding cards etc... Just wondering if this would be a problem (ie: to get british nationality, to prove that I was in Britain on the 09/10/07 and didn't leave on 11/10/07...

They stamped both stamps just near each other, almost on the top, hehe..

I didn't get a stamp when entering the UK. I saw the guy scanned it, and the only question was: "is he your family member?" And I said yes.

[Dawie]

See also 4.1 The need for a passport or travel document and what constitutes one:

A bona fide passport or travel document should:

* contain photograph, name and date of birth of holder;
* state the holder’s nationality (or disclaimer if holder is stateless or of undetermined nationality);
* be valid for travel to the UK;
* be valid for long enough to cover length of intended stay in the United Kingdom.

Thanks Vinny!