Quick question about passports

[Wannabefarmer]

My passport runs out in March next year and dd's in August. I am just about to apply for ds's first passport. Can I renew mine and dd's now or do I have to wait until closer to the time they run out?

I'd like to do them all now as I've had an unexpected £200 (woohoo!) and it would be one step closer to finally booking a family holiday next year.

[EdithWeston]

Passports can only be issued for max 10 years, so unexpired part no longer gets added on. Rules changed 2018.

I'd do then next year (I think you can renew at any time, certainly when only 6months left)

[PotteringAlong]

No, you can renew whenever you like. Lots of places want 6 months on your passport anyway so renewing them early is common.

[SillyBub]

Presuming you're talking about British passports.... You used to be able to renew passports with up to 9 months still left to go on them and they'd add that time on to the new one but they don't add it on anymore, although you can still renew.

Put the money to one side and do them better the time. If you're not planning on going abroad anytime soon then there's no need to get your DS's passport now either.

[PhoneLock]

Can't you just bank the £200 and renew the passports when they run out?

[dementedpixie]

You can do the renewals but any time remaining on the old ones will be lost. I would maybe wait until the New Year before doing the others

[Wannabefarmer]

Thank you for the quick responses. Ok, I'll wait until nearer the time. The dc passports are only 3 years so losing a whole year would not be sensible!

[blacktop]

3 years? Are you not in the U.K.? The advice above may not apply to you then

[Wannabefarmer]

Sorry, 5 years! Yes I'm in the UK, but not had coffee yet.

[blacktop]

I know how you feel!

I would definitely do them later simply because you lose the time left now. Not too late kind as we have no idea where things will be at next year

[BarbaraofSeville]

It's ridiculous that they no longer add the time on. The old system was fine and helpful because it allowed people to renew their passports at quiet times of year or when they knew they weren't travelling for a few weeks.

Now people are far more likely to leave it until the last minute, so they don't lose so much time, especially with childrens when they don't last so long.

[TW2013]

We are delaying ds renewal because doesn't look as if we are going abroad anytime soon. Am thinking that the time might be useful at the other end of childhood. A 15 yr old can still only get a 5yr passport but a 16yr old can get a 10yr adult passport, it will cost a bit more at 16, but I figure that at 20 a dc might still be financially dependent and possibly holidaying with us if skiing was dangling in front of them so we might pay for passport whereas at 26 the ball will be definitely in their court!

[Wannabefarmer]

That's really annoying that they don't let you add the time on. I wanted to get all the passports done in one go so it was out of the way and I only had to worry about paying for flights (we'll be staying with family). Having to add on passport renewal costs at the same time makes it all seem so much more expensive 😭