The passport expiration date is one of the most important pieces of information in our passport or travel document. We must pay special attention to these dates, as they could affect our travel and may also be taken into consideration at the border upon our arrival at our destination.

What happens if the expiration date is less than three months after the date of your application? The system will allow the process with all the information you have provided, and most likely your application will be approved. However you must bear in mind that when you arrive at the border of your destination country, the customs officer may decide to refuse you entry into the Schengen area just for this reason. You must have a very good excuse to be accepted for entry (for instance humanitarian grounds).

Another consideration to keep in mind is the state of deterioration. Due to the fact that it is close to expiration it could be quite worn and have some deteriorated pages due to previous trips throughout the 10 years that the passport has been valid. You don’t want to be in a situation where your passport gets torn or broken in the middle of your trip. Then you would have to find the closest embassy of your country of citizenship to get a new passport, and this is a hassle you don’t want or need on your well-deserved trip.

Sometimes embassies  are very crowded and may even schedule appointments far in advance, which can be inconvenient if you need to return to your country as soon as possible or if your departure date is within the next few days.

Therefore it is always recommended to renew your passport if the expiration date is close to the departure of your trip, just to be on the safe side, and have as calm and pleasant a trip as possible.