A cautionary tale: Last year our friends (visitors
from Hawkes Bay) were about to embark on a family holiday in Vanuatu and
stayed with us in Auckland before their departure the next day. They’d
booked a deal online on Expedia, entered the required details, got their
tickets and arrived at ours bouncing with excitement, snorkels and
masks, sun hats and sun screen all carefully packed.
The next morning they left bright and early and an hour later we got a
phone call. Dad’s passport had 5 and a half months before it expired
and they were refused entry. Even a phone call to the Vanuatu consular
went in vain who they told Air New Zealand that if they carried him, he
would be sent home. After a few more phone calls and racking of brains
about how to change their holiday, Air New Zealand graciously let them
book a trip to Sydney instead where snorkels and masks were not
required. Expedia came to the party too with a part refund on
accommodation.
This short-changing of our valid passports is a rort! Imagine the
uproar if your gym said you can’t come in for the last few weeks of your
membership. If a traveller has return tickets that fall within the
expiry date, then this is a money-grab.
I am quite possibly one of the last people in New Zealand on a
10-year passport (and no, I can’t use Smart Gate because it’s too old
school). And now they’re looking at bringing it back it, so I hope they
do it before October because as you’ll see below, even though it doesn’t
expire until April, I cannot visit most of the world.
Rant over. Here is a list of countries you need 6 months clear on
your passport to enter. There are also a few that you need 1 to 3 months
validity and only Australia, USA, UK and Canada will let us in with passports valid for the duration of your stay.
Australia – valid for duration of stay
Canada – valid for duration of stay
Dubai – 6 months
Fiji – 6 months
France – 3 months
Germany – 3 months
Greece – 3 months
Hong Kong – 1 month
Indonesia – 6 months
Italy – 3 months
Japan – valid for duration of stay
Malaysia – 6 months
Mexico – 6 months is recommended, although you may be able to have shorter if you can prove your length of stay is over before your passport expires.
New Caledonia – 3 months, or duration of of stay for EU nationals
New Zealand – 3 months
Oman – 6 months
Philippines – 6 months
Rarotonga (Cook Islands) – 6 months
Singapore – 6 months
Samoa – 6 months
South Africa – 1 month
Tahiti – 3 months
Thailand – 6 months
UK – valid for length of stay
USA – 6 months longer than your intended stay and a Visa Waiver must be purchased online at least 72 hours before departure for US$14. BUT WAIT! Addendum: after this post was published, all sorts of hooha ensued and it turns out that New Zealand (and all these countries) have signed an agreement with the USA that we can enter for the duration of our passport validity.
Here’s a quote from the Big Gun to give you peace of mind:
“As a general rule, passports must be valid for six months
beyond the date the traveler will exit the U.S., however, the U.S. has
signed agreements with a number of countries (including Australia and
New Zealand) to waive this requirement. When such an agreement
is in place, the passport must be valid for the entire period of the
visitor’s intended stay, but the additional six month validity period is
not required.”
Justin Kimmons-Gilbert
Vice Consul, United States Consulate General, Auckland, New Zealand
Vice Consul, United States Consulate General, Auckland, New Zealand
