Essentially looking for confirmation of my understanding of travel in and out of the Netherlands, to France (or Austria) for a week, for an EU Citizen (Italian) with an expired (by 2 months) Italian passport. Person is my girlfriend.
Born in South Africa, but with Italian citizenship. Resident in Netherlands for less than 3 months so do not yet have Dutch residents permit. Was permitted to enter the Netherlands from the UK (where she lived for 9 years), despite only having a few weeks of validity on the passport.
Europa.eu search of what is possible on an expired passport, in and out of the Netherlands:
Whatever your nationality, an expired passport is not accepted as a valid travel document to enter or leave the Netherlands. europa.eu expired passport
Seems very cut and dried. Is there some other valid travel document that would be proof? Only other currently held ID is a UK Driving License, or a South African passport with no Schengen visa, in her married name, She has marriage certificate if the dots need to be joined...
But looking on IATA for the possibilities of travel, when all the details are entered, it appears to show that travel IS possible to France - when I fill in the details (i.e. Italian, passport dates, depart from Netherlands, fly to France for a week, resident in Netherlands, Alien Passport as proof), I see that
Yes, The documentation you hold is sufficient based on your details and the itinerary provided.
Is Europa.eu the safest source of information? Does the Netherlands have stricter requirements?
Air travel is the preferred option - but train or driving could be done, if that makes any difference. Can she leave and re-enter the Netherlands with what she's got?