Passport validity rule change in Amsterdam for transiting passengers: Will French flights be affected?

A seemingly new passport-validity rule at Amsterdam airport could have a major impact on travellers transiting through the EU to reach an onward destination, particularly for Britons. 

UK media is reporting of a British man, Gavin McDermott, who was denied boarding for a flight on Dutch flag-carrier KLM from the UK to Amsterdam Schiphol airport where he was set to transit for a connecting flight to Hong Kong. 

Mr McDermott was denied boarding at Leeds Bradford airport after his passport was flagged as invalid for entering the EU as it was over 10 years old and did not abide by EU rules, even though he was not set to exit the airport’s transit area and enter the bloc.

Instead he had to travel to London and take a direct flight from there to Hong Kong the next day.

When applying for compensation for the issue Mr McDermott was denied any refund, with the airport insisting they were correctly following procedure.

Britons must check passport expiry dates

As a reminder, only passports that were issued less than 10 years ago can be used to enter the EU. 

This has posed problems for Britons in the past, as the UK Home Office used to offer passports with an extended validity (up to 10 years and nine months) in a bid to entice travellers to renew passports early and avoid a rush of requests in pre-holiday periods.

This policy was in place until 2018, and while the UK remained part of the EU it did not affect Britons, as all EU passports are accepted within the bloc (providing they were deemed valid by the rules of the issuing nation).

Since 2021 however Britons whose passports were issued more than 10 years ago are denied entry to the bloc, even if they have a remaining validity period covering the date of travel.

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

Rule change could have major impact on Britons and non-EU nationals

Usually, passengers transiting do not need to meet the entry conditions of the country where the transiting airport is situated, only the conditions of their destination country. 

In the case above, the passenger had enough validity on his passport from the date of his planned exit from Hong Kong to abide by that nation’s rules, even if his passport was not valid to enter the EU.

It is thought that thousands of travellers could be impacted if such regulations require all those transiting to have a valid passport for EU entry, even if not exiting the airport, are made widespread across Schengen Area countries.

Alongside Britons (who are an international anomaly with their extended passport validity), travellers from countries who would otherwise need a visa to enter the EU – such as China, Morocco, Turkey, Bahrain, and India – would be affected. 

To fulfil the conditions of a valid EU passport, they would need to apply for a visa for the bloc, as only certain countries such as the UK, US, Canada and Australia benefit from visa-free travel there.

Currently, this would come in the form of a full three-month visa to enter the EU. 

Is the rule set to be implemented in French airports? 

When responding to UK media The Independent on the matter, KLM said “The international transit zone of Schiphol is considered the external border of the Schengen area.”

“This means that the travel document requirements of the Schengen Borders Code and/or the Visa Code apply.”

“Passengers travelling via the international transit zone of Schiphol must therefore be in possession of a passport that was issued in the past 10 years and is valid for at least three months after the transfer.”

“This is not a recent change in regulations and is based on European regulations, not Dutch. Passengers do not need a full EU passport for transit via Schiphol, but a passport that meets the aforementioned conditions.”

However, at other major EU airports that act as connection hubs – including Frankfurt and Pairs Charles-de-Gaulle – such rules are not in place. 

When transiting between flights from two non-Schengen destinations travellers do not need any additional documentation, provided they do not exit the transit zone. 

The EU Visa Code does not state that those transiting through an EU airport need a passport which is valid to enter the EU. 

Certain nationals must obtain an airport transit visa, but this is not the case for the majority of non-EU nationals, and only affects travellers from around a dozen nations such as Afghanistan, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

Although the EU does allow for member states to include additional rules for transiting visitors it is thought unlikely this will enter more widely into force, especially with the incoming border security rules. 

Passengers transiting directly via a UK airport are exempt from the incoming ‘Electronic Travel Authorisation’ (ETA, a visa-like scheme for most non-British travellers entering the UK).

Read more: Reader questions about the UK’s new ETA answered