Stupid question: do I have enough time left on my passport?

[PaddleBlue]

My maths is appalling and I am doubting my ability to count months

My passport expires on 18th April 2022. I’m due to go away on 27th September and return on 3rd October. Is this just within the 6 months of when I return?! Do you count it as weeks or full months?

Thank you

My passport expires on 18th April 2022

What is the start date though?

You should be ok as long as you are back before the 18th October.

3rd October to 3rd April is 6 months though.

Sounds like it. The Govt has a passport calculator though as Brexit messed things up regarding the six month rule
check-passport-for-travel-to-europe.homeoffice.gov.uk/?_ga=2.164200374.821848563.1631879927-1557527621.1631513009

The date of issue is 18 October 2011…that’s not good is it

@PaddleBlue

The date of issue is 18 October 2011…that’s not good is it

Probably not, no.

Although I'm sure I read a news article very recently that said some European countries were making allowances for this issue with U.K. passports.

@PaddleBlue

The date of issue is 18 October 2011…that’s not good is it

No, not good at all. Now brexit has happened your passport expires 10 years from issue. You are unlikely to be able to use it to get into the EU. There was a post on here and they were stopped at the airport. When do you fly?

Sorry reading comprehension fail.

So if it expires on 18 October I’m ok as long as I get back before then?

Nope. You need 6 months validity remaining

Oh. Shite.

Unfortunately you need to renew your passport. Another joy of Brexit.

I think you need to register to read the whole article but...

www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/travel-passport-eu-brexit-uk-b1909813.html

But now it has emerged the European Union will let Brits travel with more than 10 years on their passport, with a leeway of nine months.

Check your passport is validfor travel before you book your trip, and renew your passport if you do not have enough time left on it.

Make sure your passport is:

valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave Spain, or any other Schengen countryless than 10 years old

The 3 months you need when leaving a country must be within 10 years of the passport issue date.

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the minimum 3 months needed.

This is what it says for Spain, where are you going?

Officially so long as the passport is less than 3 months old when you come back you should be ok. Enter the details on the IATA passport checker.

10 years not 3 months brain freeze

Even if she only needs 3 months, PaddleBlue's passport effectively expires on 18 October, 10 years from when it was issued. So only a month away

And she's due to travel in 10 days

There might be time to get a fast track renewal, if she can get an appointment - but it will cost more.

Thanks for your advice all, much appreciated

The rule is 3 months for EU now, isn't it?

This is what the Uk Government website says putting in the dates of PaddleBlue's passport validity (made up an adult DoB and said travelling to Spain)

@PaddleBlue

The date of issue is 18 October 2011…that’s not good is it

Your actual expiry date is 18 October 2021 then. You need to renew it immediately

I think it's the 3 months before ten years since issue, so yours is no good for travel now OP . I heard this from a reliable source recently. Can you get an emergency renewal appointment?

This is completely shit and catching a lot of people out because they are quite reasonably not realising that the 'renew any time in the last nine months of your passport and you'll get an expiry date that's 10 years after the current one' facility is no more.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.cambridge-news.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/travel-eu-british-passport-need-21478378.amp

This is interesting and implies that the expiry and months remaining can be taken as separate dates. Not sure I'd rely on it as the airlines could choose their own rules

Phone the passport office for advice if you are in any doubt/check gov.uk passport office website. You may be able to get an appointment to renew in time for your holiday.