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AIBU?

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Original poster

6 month passport rule?

29 replies

BlackDressingGown · 12/09/2023 20:16

Totally not aibu but posting for traffic sorry!

Has anyone ever travelled with less than 6 months left on passport, is this allowed or will we be turned away at airport? I'm thinking to do a cheeky 3/4 night away in late oct/early nov, somewhere European but son's passport expires in march 2024, mine not til 2030.

OP posts:
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Aliceinunderland · 13/09/2023 15:07

I renewed my son's passport. Sent it on Monday got it back Thursday of the same week. Don't forget the new EU visa thing that comes in November

Original poster
BlackDressingGown · 13/09/2023 15:05

Thank you all again! I might just do a renewal and cross my fingers! Last time it got delayed as they wanted to check his right to be in this country lol although both parents, grandparents and great grandparents are born and raised in England so there was a bit of back and forth and it took longer than expected, I think I'm worried it could happen again but as it's a renewal not a first passport, hopefully it should move through the system quicker.

OP posts:
Spirallingdownwards · 12/09/2023 22:18

Son's renewal came back after 5 days! Standard application and not express and not post office checked.

melj1213 · 12/09/2023 22:11

Tothepoint99 · 12/09/2023 20:49

Really??? On a normal renewal service in the UK, not the expedited service?

So posted on a Monday, worked it's way through their internal mail, renewed and sent back and delivered by the Saturday? All 3 together?

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Why is this so surprising, I renewed mine in July - and it took less than a week.

I filled in the online form and sent off my old passport right before the Post Office shut at 6:30pm Thursday; they text to confirm receipt of it Friday lunchtime; I got a text saying the new one had been printed on Saturday morning and my new passport dropped through the letterbox just before lunchtime on Monday ... so less than 4 days from starting the form to having the new passport in my hand.

ETA: and this was just the regular renewal, not the expedited process; I just needed to renew my passport as it was expired and I have trips planned next year and didn't want to leave it too late but there was no rush whatsoever so I just paid for the regular renewal service.

Seychal · 12/09/2023 21:52

I went time travelling a few years ago. I went back to 1851. To be honest nobody really cared.

TinySaltLick · 12/09/2023 21:29

AlexaCanYouHearMe · 12/09/2023 20:19

You think 7-8 weeks is ample time for the son's passport to come back?

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Yes

SoRainbowRhythms · 12/09/2023 21:19

Tothepoint99 · 12/09/2023 20:49

Really??? On a normal renewal service in the UK, not the expedited service?

So posted on a Monday, worked it's way through their internal mail, renewed and sent back and delivered by the Saturday? All 3 together?

Show quote history

DH renewed online and had his new passport within the week.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 12/09/2023 21:17

Decide on your destination, go to www.gov.uk and type the country into the search bar. The entry requirements section confirms what the country requires. Some places just require it to be valid for the period of intended stay (e.g. USA), others (e.g Turkey) require 6 months and EU (e.g. Spain) requires 3 months.

Welcome to GOV.UK

GOV.UK - The place to find government services and information - simpler, clearer, faster.

http://www.gov.uk

dementedpixie · 12/09/2023 21:14

Spain is 3 months not 6.

bert3400 · 12/09/2023 21:13

I just renewed my son's passport ...took 2 weeks and I live overseas. I wouldn't risk booking anything to EU as I've heard the airlines refusing you to board the plane, if you passport is 6 months or less. I'm a resident of the EU country I live in and it's 3 months , for UK residents it's 6 months certainly for Spain

Letsnotargue · 12/09/2023 21:00

Tothepoint99 · 12/09/2023 20:49

Really??? On a normal renewal service in the UK, not the expedited service?

So posted on a Monday, worked it's way through their internal mail, renewed and sent back and delivered by the Saturday? All 3 together?

Show quote history

I did mine about a month ago. Filled in the online form on the Monday, paid my money and posted my old passport. My new one was on my doormat Saturday morning. Standard service, no special speedy arrangements.

Womencanlift · 12/09/2023 21:00

Tothepoint99 · 12/09/2023 20:49

Really??? On a normal renewal service in the UK, not the expedited service?

So posted on a Monday, worked it's way through their internal mail, renewed and sent back and delivered by the Saturday? All 3 together?

Show quote history

Yes in UK and normal service. DP was in London. Sis and BIL was in Scotland (likely out the Glasgow office). Not sure if sis and BIL came back together but yes all within a week. Not uncommon going by conversations at work too

HisNibs · 12/09/2023 20:59

Whilst the EU only requires 3 months, some airlines (or cruise lines) require 6 months so you need to check both the country and carrier. I'm going on a cruise around the Canaries. The islands require 3 month but the cruise line insists on 6 months validity.

jotunn · 12/09/2023 20:57

'Really??? On a normal renewal service in the UK, not the expedited service?

So posted on a Monday, worked it's way through their internal mail, renewed and sent back and delivered by the Saturday? All 3 together?'

I renewed DS's this summer. I did the online application and sent off his old passport on Monday and his new one was back by the Monday after.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 12/09/2023 20:55

Do watch out for the 10 year passport life rule as well!!

Tothepoint99 · 12/09/2023 20:54

dementedpixie · 12/09/2023 20:49

USA only requires the passport to be valid for the length of the stay so no extra remaining time is required

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Good to know.

dementedpixie · 12/09/2023 20:49

Tothepoint99 · 12/09/2023 20:45

Yes. Travelled to USA on less than 6 months. I just had to go to a booth instead of the automated passport control.

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USA only requires the passport to be valid for the length of the stay so no extra remaining time is required

Tothepoint99 · 12/09/2023 20:49

Womencanlift · 12/09/2023 20:39

My DP, my sister and my BIL all got their renewals back within a week. DP was in July and Sis and BIL was last month

Show quote history

Really??? On a normal renewal service in the UK, not the expedited service?

So posted on a Monday, worked it's way through their internal mail, renewed and sent back and delivered by the Saturday? All 3 together?

dementedpixie · 12/09/2023 20:48

EU only needs 3 months remaining when you leave the EU, not 6 months. If its a child passport extra months added are fine as the passport will still be less than 10 years old

Tothepoint99 · 12/09/2023 20:45

BlackDressingGown · 12/09/2023 20:16

Totally not aibu but posting for traffic sorry!

Has anyone ever travelled with less than 6 months left on passport, is this allowed or will we be turned away at airport? I'm thinking to do a cheeky 3/4 night away in late oct/early nov, somewhere European but son's passport expires in march 2024, mine not til 2030.

Yes. Travelled to USA on less than 6 months. I just had to go to a booth instead of the automated passport control.

Holidaydiscosinglemum · 12/09/2023 20:41

Check where you are travelling to - the Canaries only needed 3 months so I waited to renew my kids till we got back

Womencanlift · 12/09/2023 20:39

AlexaCanYouHearMe · 12/09/2023 20:19

You think 7-8 weeks is ample time for the son's passport to come back?

Show quote history

My DP, my sister and my BIL all got their renewals back within a week. DP was in July and Sis and BIL was last month

Original poster
BlackDressingGown · 12/09/2023 20:37

Thank you all for the helpful advice, much appreciated! I'm worried about trying to renew it before and it gets delayed

OP posts:
YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 12/09/2023 20:21

I would get it renewed but I get paranoid about this stuff! Should be 3 months validity from the date that you're leaving your destination country (so the end of your holiday) and not more than 10 years old. Some airlines want six months validity though, I'd check on the FCO website and your airline's terms and conditions.

PuttingDownRoots · 12/09/2023 20:19

Its 3 months for EU.
Make sure the passport is essential than 10 years old as well (from issue date not expiry date!) If your sons passport is an adult one.

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