One of my friends need to transit via Switzerland(to accompany an aged person) on the way to UK. The problem is that his passport is expiring next month so does not have the validity of 3 months as per the Swiss rules for British citizens. In this case if he books a non-connecting flight to UK, he needs to come out the terminal to get the luggage and check it in to the next flight - which means he needs to go through immigration again - where this 3 months validity passport is going to be an issue? Are there any other routes apart from booking a straight connection (which is not available)? Whom should I call to confirm this? Is it the british embassy?
Thanks for any leads.

If your friend doesn't have a passport valid for entry to Switzerland, they won't even be allowed to board the aircraft. I suggest they look into ways of getting a valid passport. Where are they now? Emergency passports from the local embassy are a possibility.

Sort of as above.

The country he is in will (probably) let him leave. The UK will of course let him in.

Switzerland as a transit stop? Almost certainly not, if he has to pass through passport control. Which he will do if Switzerland is where he leaves Schengen.

Now... he *might* get a sympathetic border guard who sees the aged person with him and lets him through. I personally would not bet on it.

The big issue is (as mentioned above) getting on the plane. The airline is responsible for repatriating people who entered the country illegally... they will not take the risk. And what with all the current covid paperwork, they are good at checking.

Tell him to contact the UK embassy in his country and get an emergency passport. They are used to this, since Brexit lopped 6 months off the life of everyone's passports on 1st Jan 2021.

Kind regards




Ian

AND are subject to very large fines. Many check-in agents don’t work for the airline, but a handling agent. They have no latitude to make exceptions.

So either get a direct flight, or a temporary passport.

Thank you all. He is going to get an 'Emergency travel document' (need to apply directly on gov.uk)- which apparently takes 3-4 days.

Where is he coming from?