Oh my fucking god, close shave with expired passport

[Vampirebats]

We’re travelling on holiday 14th June. Just sat out in the lovely sunshine in the garden and I was suddenly struck out of nowhere with the thought that my husbands passport must need renewal this year.

Checked and the date of issue was 14th August 2014!

It says it expires may 2025 but those extra months don’t count any more.

Online application hastily done and crossing fingers now that it comes back in time.

I still feel sick - not as sick as I would have if we’d rocked up to the airport with it 😱

But even if it doesn’t expire u til August 2024 wouldn’t he have been ok to travel in June 2024. Where are you going to ? I know some countries want six months on the passport but Don think it’s many? Might be wrong and maybe it’s got stricter now.

Ours took ten days last week 😊

We’re going to Greece, I think you need a further 3 months on it.

Lots of people are going to get caught out- you need an extra 3 months for EU.

I filled out DDs passport application on line this week but I’ve not posted the old one and I got to the Post office too late this morning. (Why can’t the big post office in a busy town centre be open in the afternoon?! Latest in my “why is all service shit since the pandemic?” regular moans)

I sent my renewal off on Monday and yesterday I heard it was being printed so you should be OK!

I would have thought this as well, naturally, but sadly it isn't true, I'm afraid!

I'm sure your passport will come in time though OP

You need 3 months remaining from date of leaving the EU country.

• OP his passport would actually have been OK as it would be under 10 years old on the date of departure (this is where you look at the issue date)

• It would have had more than 3 months remaining on returning from the EU as that's when you look at the actual expiry date.

The 2 rules are independent of each other so the 3 months remaining don't need to be within the new expiry date you work out from looking at the issue date.

The old passport would have been fine - it's under 10 years old at the date of travel, and has more than 3 months left until the expiry date.

The rules have changed, but only effect the issue dates - so for example he couldn't have travelled using it after 14th August, as it would be over 10 years since issue. The expiry date is still ok.

Having said that, at least with a new passport, you'll have no doubts about its validity.

It would have been OK but better to have the security of a new one. Like pp said the two rules are independent of each other.

Oh thanks, we’ve already posted the old one off (although it’ll be sat in the PO until Tuesday).

Just hope it arrives ok now!

You should be OK, it's not super peak time to be applying for passports and most of the time these days it's taking ten to fourteen days I think.

You'll be fine. It'll be back in two weeks tops.

If it's not I'd be surprised.

Just done passports, got them back in 5 days!

You did the right thing getting the renewal done. It’s definitely better to travel on a passport with plenty of time left on it. I’ve just renewed 3 passports and got them all back in a week. Couldn’t believe it took so little time to process and get them sent out.

My dds renewal came back in 8 days last month

Yabu to say it’s a close shave- You would have been well within the rules with the old one.

issued less than 10 years ago, more than 3 months left before expiring

fingers crossed it comes back quickly. My sons came back in 9 days which is slower than most.

We've just done one child and one first adult passport...took 7 days from posting to getting the new ones back so you will be fine!

@Vampirebats both mine and my hubby's passports expired in 2021. we applied for them immediately and new passports were received in 5 working days!

Sorry to be stupid but 3 months from when?
Mine expires in January 2025 and on going to to Germany in August, I'm assuming that will be OK

When was yours issued?

It has to have 3 months left on it after your return date and the passport needs to be under 10 years old. So check the date it was issued to see if it will be under 10 year old.

Does your husband not check his own passport? I'm amazed how often this happens on MN.

What is the issue date? Your passport needs to be under 10 years old on the date you leave the UK.

You need 3 months remaining before the expiry date when you leave Germany

Thanks for the prompt.

We are going to Turkey end July. My sons passport expires 21st Jan 2025. Have checked and Turkey is 5 months so still OK. If it had been 6 we would have had to get a renewal done. I assumed it was 3

If OP's passport was issued in August 2014 and she travels in June 2024 they wouldn't have had the 3 months left when they returned that's required.