Imminent departure for Cambodia and passport expiring less than 6 months after stay

Hi there,

We’re supposed to fly in four days—my partner, our two kids, and me—for a one-month trip to Cambodia. While applying for an e-visa, we just realized that both our passports won’t be valid for 6 months after our stay ends, which is a key requirement for getting a Cambodian visa. I don’t know how, but we totally missed this info!! Our tickets aren’t refundable, and we’ve booked several non-refundable hotels there too...

Has anyone been in this situation or have any ideas or solutions?

Thanks so much in advance!!!!

Hi there,

Unfortunately, I don’t see how this can be sorted out. Cambodia will have to wait for another time... However, look into the country where your layover is planned—maybe that validity period isn’t required for countries where French citizens have a visa exemption (Thailand, Vietnam, for example), and you could visit those instead. I doubt it, but it’s always worth checking. If that’s the case, make sure to explain it clearly to your airline before boarding. I’m really sorry for you! !

Hi there,

It’s a no-go—you’ll be denied at check-in before departure. The airline won’t risk having to fly you straight back after you’re denied entry. Check if you can change your destination with the airline—Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia also require 6 months of validity (only if you booked directly with them). Otherwise, you might be able to get a refund for airport taxes (not all of them). Your passport is the first document you should check before booking *anything* worldwide. Six months of validity after your return is the minimum required in most countries.

Hello

Keep us posted on how things go—your story could happen to other travelers! We often overlook the essentials; I’ve left my passport at home before

Might your flights be refundable through your insurance? All it takes is a family member getting sick. In that case, I wouldn’t hesitate to have my doctor issue a certificate.

Hi,

It’s possible to renew your passport at the French embassy in Phnom Penh. Processing times range between 2 and 4 weeks (varies depending on the time of year). It’s not ideal, but if it can save your trip... I still recommend contacting them before your departure: https://kh.ambafrance.org/Nous-contacter-14

You’ll be denied boarding right away—it happened to a friend whose daughter’s passport wasn’t checked.... Let us know if you found a solution because this really does happen 🤦

Hello Your🏴‍☠️ flights might be refundable through your insurance? All it takes is for a family member to be sick. In that case, I wouldn’t hesitate to have my doctor issue a certificate.

That’s still called insurance fraud, and it’s not cool

Hi there, For your hotels, if they were booked through Booking.com, even if they’re non-refundable, you can try requesting a penalty-free cancellation—sometimes it works, but it’s up to the hotel’s discretion. Good luck!

Hi there, Your🏴‍☠️ flights might be refundable through your insurance? All it takes is a family member being sick. In that case, I wouldn’t hesitate to have my doctor issue a certificate.

That’s still called insurance fraud, and it’s not cool

What do you mean? I just suggested getting a medical certificate issued if a family member was sick

Hello Your🏴‍☠️ flights might be refundable through your insurance? All it takes is a family member being sick. In that case, I wouldn’t hesitate to have my doctor issue a certificate.

That’s still called insurance fraud, and it’s not cool

What do you mean? I simply suggested getting a medical certificate issued if a family member was sick

Oh, right! Like bad luck then? 🙂. Already that the passports aren’t good ¾

Hello,

I’m sorry to hear that.

It can’t be stressed enough to make sure you have all the necessary documents—valid passport, visa, health documents, etc.—BEFORE committing to a trip. Many countries require a passport valid for six months after the last day of your trip. Some even require two blank consecutive pages. If that’s not the case, you can get a new passport issued for free, valid for the remaining duration. Also, it’s worth remembering that passport processing times are still very long (several months) since the COVID crisis, even if things are improving. You don’t have to apply in your place of residence. Some town halls are faster than others, and you can even do a bit of "administrative tourism"! The same goes for visas in certain countries (up to a year for the U.S. if you’re not eligible for ESTA!).

So, it’s important to take care of all this well in advance of any trip planned outside the Schengen Area

And for those who might be tempted to suddenly feel sick, you should know that cancellation insurance sends a pretty detailed questionnaire to the doctor. They’ll need to provide proof of the illness. Just heating up your thermometer won’t cut it..........Because, on top of that, if the doctor issues a questionable certificate, they can also be prosecuted and convicted if fraud is proven.................

And for those who might be tempted to suddenly feel sick, you should know that cancellation insurance sends a pretty detailed questionnaire to the doctor. So they must be able to provide proof of the said illness. Just warming up your thermometer won’t cut it..........Because, incidentally, if the certificate is questionable, the doctor can also be prosecuted and convicted if fraud is proven.................

That’s Swiss rigor for you, keeping Kate on the straight and narrow! 😛 [;]

I don’t think French law doesn’t care about attempted scams........ Simply as a doctor, I’ve had several requests for certificates for non-medical reasons to try and get a refund (arguments with a travel partner, no passport, only an ID card for a destination that requires a passport, etc., etc.). When it comes to genuine medical reasons for canceling a trip, I’ve spent a good amount of time filling out pages of questionnaires each time. I remember, for example, a person who pulled a calf muscle a few days before a stay in a city. Knowing I’d have to fill out a questionnaire for this cancellation, I asked for an ultrasound of the calf. And luckily, because the insurance company initially refused and only reimbursed with proof from the imaging (which wasn’t otherwise necessary for the patient, as the case was perfectly clear clinically).

There’s that Swiss rigor to get Kate back on track! 😛 😉

It’s true, I’m a little embarrassed 😛 Especially since insurance companies NEVER scam their clients!

That’s Swiss rigor for you, putting Kate back on the straight and narrow! 😛 😉

True, I’m a little embarrassed 😛 Especially since insurers NEVER scam their clients!

Insurers don’t scam—they just have “special exclusion conditions”