Passport expired in 2006. Can I renew or do I have to apply from scratch?

[54isanopendoor]

Just that.
I looked at the .gov page & it wasn't clear to me.

Mine was a year out of date and classed as a renewal.

Renewal

it says you only apply for a new passport if you’ve never had one before

I was hoping it would just be a renewal (& new pic, obvs) but I wondered as it was nearly 20 years if I would have fallen off the system...

renew it
dead easy, get new photo from a booth with a code on it, go to the gov site -renew passport, start form put in code from photo which comes up on the screen, fill in rest of form, pay by card and send old passport back to them
we did ours last week 🙂

@themonkeysnuts
FAB - thank you.

OK - 2 supplementary Qu's (sorry, just thought of)

My son needs to apply for his first passport. I have his birth cert & my passport (which was valid when he was born)

Do you think it would be better to apply for his first, then my new one (his is needed in about 4m mine not until summer)

I am going to change my name upon Divorce in July.

Would it be cheaper to wait until then rather than get it renewed now?
(but then I'd like to use my passport in Aug so this might mess it up)

Lastly (sorry...)
Dd is 16 in July.
Should I apply for a child one so it's safe for Aug or wait until then & hope her 1st adult passport is quick?

Do I need valid passports to even book a hol / flights (not travelled for 20 years & it SHOWS :(

There were huge passport delays last year in peak season 3-4 months I think. I got new one last January and it was a week.

Get your DD A child passport and her first adult one will be when she is 21.

Get your DS his first child passport now.

Then when you get your documents back get yours - but it will be in you pre divorce name and you will have to wait 10 years to change it. There is no way given the fiasco last year that I would risk leaving it until July to change with a travel date in august. Having my passport in my maiden name was a addict headache as it's your main ID. So I need a DBS / covid pass / bank account and credit card etc it was all wrong.

You do not need a valid passport to book travel but you will be required to supply API to the airline before you travel. (May be 48 hours before travel?) this advance passenger info and is name passport no etc. rudimentary.

The passport application is entirely painless and easy as low. unlike DVLA.

The prices go up on Thursday!

Just to say I spoke to the Passport office (finally got through after a week of trying, hence MN post before...)

They suggest I apply for all 3 together, online on Weds.
Then send in supporting docs (my old passport for me which is also needed for Ds 1st adult passport, plus his birth certificate, plus Dd's birth cert for child one)
Have found local place that takes pics with an online code so can use that.

Fingers crossed it goes smoothly.

On the matter of DDs passport, you could wait until she's 16 and then apply for a fast track one if you're worried about it not coming in time.

I don't know if this works out better value than a normal speed child's one now.

Then again, if you get a child's one, she'll be 20 when the renewal is due and you might be able to get her to pay for it herself

You can take your own pictures. If you haven't got a white wall use a white sheet. I've taken all my own for me and the kids

I would call the Passport Office again and ask them whether you can apply for a passport in your post divorce name now. If you are reverting to your birth name then it might be doable. If you've already instructed a solicitor in relation to your divorce you could ask them to write a letter confirming that you intend to divorce and revert to your birth name which you could submit as supporting evidence. Or you could change your name back by deed poll now. That way your passport will be in the correct name for you going forward.

I needed a renewal and a name change, DC1 a child renewal and DC2 a new child passport.

Our documents went to 3 different passport offices! They must have Co-ordinated though, as I got all new passports (separate envelopes) the same day! Then the returned documents came back in dribs and drabs.