Traveling with an expired passport
A non-EU citizen with a valid residence permit is unsure if they are allowed to travel to other Schengen countries by plane with an expired passport or a passport with less than three months validity.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1travel by car or train instead of flying, as identification checks may be less frequent or strictly enforced
- 2Waiting until returning from the trip to renew the passport
- 3Applying for standard or online passport renewal ahead of time
- 4Paying for expedited processing or overnight shipping services
- 5Using private companies near major cities to assist with emergency expedited renewals
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“My passport expires end of January 2027. Based on what I read, my current passport will be valid but I’m still anxious. Should I risk it and get my passport renewed or will I be okay and just renew when I get back.”source ↗
“Getting a renewal when you're on the clock is a recipe for stress.”source ↗
“I had the same problem, traveling in early November. I applied for my renewal on Sept 5. paid for overnight of the application and expedited return service. My new Passport was delivered in 3 weeks.”source ↗
“If you're anxious about it and you live near a major city, there are often companies that offer help with very fast expedited renewals (for a price)”source ↗
“Hello, i want to ask is it allowed to travel to other Schengen countries with expired passport or passport having validity less than three months as a non eu/eea citizen but having a valid residence permit?”source ↗
“I don't need a visa cuz i have a residence permit. The main question is my passport validity is less than 3 months. Am i allowed to travel via plane ?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Can I leave the airport on a long layover without a visa?
- 4Can a 17 year old fly internationally without parent consent?
- 4How to get a 6-month supply of ADHD medication for international travel
- 3Can I let grandparents take my toddler abroad without me?
- 4What to do if you lose your phone while traveling abroad
- 6Is a week-long trip to Asia worth the jet lag?