Help! Travelling to Germany on a NZ Passport with Less than 6 Months Validity

partymix on 25/02/2019 - 13:31

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has had any experience with this or can offer any advice.

Situation: My dear uncle is very sick and likely to pass away in the next couple of days and my parents want to travel last minute from Melbourne to Munich, Germany to see him/be there for funeral etc. They're both NZ citizens however the problem is, their NZ passports expire in May 2019.

What I've done or will be doing:

  • Researched 6 month passport validity rule for Germany (getting mixed results)
  • Went into flight centre and the agent advised they it's needed
  • Waiting for NZ embassy to open at 1.30pm to call them to confirm (and also to confirm the turnaround time for urgent renewal of passports)
  • Have to wait for German embassy to open tomorrow to call them

Questions:
- My google research showed an 6-month passport validity exemption form for Fiji so wondering if anyone knows of anything similar for Germany?
- Surely if we have a return ticket that shows that their return date is well within passport expiry, this should be enough to prove they don't plan on staying beyond the expiry? Has anyone had any luck in a similar situation?
- (my OB side coming out….) Any tips on where to get last minute flight deals?

Travel Europe Germany

Comments

  • HighAndDry on 25/02/2019 - 13:41
    +4

    Since you're already calling people, why not call the German consulate?

    This says:

    To enter the Schengen area you will need a return ticket and passport, which has 3 months validity from the date of your intended departure from the Schengen area.

    This also says the same thing specifically re Germany:

    New Zealand citizens must have a passport that is valid for three months beyond the period of intended stay in Germany. A visa is not required for stays of up to three months.

    • partymix on 25/02/2019 - 23:42

      Yeah they were already closed by the time I looked them up - will be calling them tomorrow (they only open til midday each day). but thanks for the info :)

  • redforever on 25/02/2019 - 13:47
    +1

    they might not even meet the 3 months requirement.
    Maybe focus on getting an fast track passport application. maybe head to the new zealand embassy now.

  • Donaldhump on 25/02/2019 - 14:23
    +1

    https://www.passports.govt.nz/Urgent-travel

    book flight once get passport.

    only choice, 3 months is nearly up.

  • toniyellow on 25/02/2019 - 14:27
    +1

    The German Federal Foreign Office website says

    On the planned date of departure from Germany, your passport has to be valid at least for another three months and it has to be issued within the last 10 years.
    https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aamt/zugastimaa/buergerse…

    Passport offices are normally very good at turning around travel documents very quickly when you are travelling for a seriously ill family member or funeral, I have seen the Sydney office for Australian passports do same day. You may have to get them on a plane to Sydney (or NZ) for a NZ passport.

  • Randxyz123 on 25/02/2019 - 14:32
    +1

    Are your parents German citizens? It might be easier for them to get an emergency German passport if so, that can usually be done the same day. They can then enter Germany and sort something out when they are in.

    Or

    Get expedited replacements. Find out the process. Get everything to the embassy by 5pm today. Find out for example, if you got them on a plane to NZ tonight and they were at the passport office first thing tomorrow could they fly out the next day from NZ?

    DO NOT count on getting on that plane without meeting that requirement. Germany has a 3-month requirement yes, but for example, Singapore and many other places have a very strict 6-month requirement. If you fly via Singapore, for example, they won't let you on the plane at all because they don't know you won't try and enter Singapore. It is the AIRLINE'S problem to get your rejected arse back to Australia. I heard this argument last time I went overseas.

    I think Dubai, HK etc have similar rules. Just don't risk it. Not worth it.

    • partymix on 25/02/2019 - 23:44

      Not German citizens unfortunately - yeah I definitely am not booking any flights until I sort out the passports or have some sort of official document that exempts them (but that sounds unlikely that such a document even exists)

  • CyberMurning on 25/02/2019 - 15:34
    +1

    moral of the story:

    please set reminder google calendar to renew passport 7-8 months before expiry, no matter you have plan of travelling or not.

  • Stewardo on 25/02/2019 - 15:50
    +4

    It won’t be immigration that will be the issue, it will be the airline that won’t let you check in. You need to go to fast track passport with NZ embassy.

  • TheRealCher on 25/02/2019 - 22:18
    +1

    Airlines also often have bereavement fairs if you contact them directly. Not sure how it goes in advance though.

    • partymix on 25/02/2019 - 23:45

      Great tip, I will give it a try also. Thanks heaps

  • partymix on 25/02/2019 - 23:41

    Thanks for all your replies!

    Got onto the NZ Embassy today and they were very helpful but also suggested I call the German Embassy (which will open tomorrow, they only open to midday each day).

    At this stage, it looks like expedited passport renewals are the best option but will see after I call the German embassy tomorrow. The NZ embassy did say could get the passports processed in Sydney and couriered to Melbourne so that's a plus and they have special allowances for certain circumstances.

    • Randxyz123 on 26/02/2019 - 08:26
      +1

      The problem is, Germany might be happy to let them in but as I said before it is the airline that will hold things up. Unless the embassy can provide a document that shows what your parents are doing and they’ve spoken to the embassy etc etc.

      Maybe see if it would be quicker if they went to Sydney. Courier could mean next day. If they can pick it up the same day it could make things better.

  • partymix on 28/02/2019 - 14:39

    Update: NZ Passport office has been amazing and passports were received today (basically 24-30 hour turnaround)! Flights booked and they're off at 6am tomorrow morning. Hopefully my mum makes it in time to see my uncle.

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