When do/would you renew passport?

[Gladioters]

I always have a dilemma with this, I don’t want to cut it too fine but also the earlier you renew the more months you ‘lose’. It seems worse with kids passports too because they are only 5 years to start with so it’s a bigger proportion.

DD’s passport expires early Sept ‘26. We are a family that travels a lot, usually to European destinations. So for that you need 3 months left on the passport - so wouldn’t be able to use her passport after early June ‘26 anyway. We will/might go away May half term - that would be ok, but cutting it fine with only 3 months and a couple of days left on the passport at our return. Then could send it straight off for renewal in early June with the plan that it’ll be back in plenty of time for August hols? That seems sensible doesn’t it? My instinct would be to renew MUCH earlier that that seems wasteful…

When was it issued because that dictates it’s use, not when it expires

That changed in 2018 so not relevant for a childs 5 year passport - it was issued 5 years before expiry in Sept 2021.

I totally understand what you’re saying, and the renewal costs are considerable enough these days, however I would rather lose out on a few months than have the stress of worrying about passport expiry dates for an upcoming trip or have to pay extra for the Fast Track scheme (which I have done in the past). Be aware that some European (and other) countries require 6 months not just 3 left on a passport. And it seems very dependent on the person dealing with you. I have had someone very reluctantly accept that I had about 4 months left on my passport before when the requirement was for 3, but it did look at one point like they were going to decline me entry to the country! So they do get quite antsy if you are close-ish to the expiry date when they look. If it’s going to be just a few days over 3 months for your May half term trip I would renew it beforehand personally. You don’t need the extra stress for the sake of the small amount of money renewing later will save you.

Not for a child and ever reducing adults. I dont have a rule, it depends on the specific circumstances at the time of expiry

It won't affect you for a few years yet but when the child is approaching 16 ithe 10 year factor also comes in to play

I wouldn't do it before June in your circumstances OP

I just did my Ds 5 year passport with 11 months left on it back in the spring. Because we need 6 months on it for long hill we are doing this winter, and we needed it this summer as we live close to 2 European borders so cross regularly on day trips in summer. I figure it’s just life. If I waited too late in the year I would be cutting it close if delays

This is the logic I usually use, the child passport is £60 odd so even if you ‘waste’ a year it’s only £12 compared to the stress of worrying about your £3k family holiday or whatever. I just wondered if I was being ridiculous…

Yup I would absolutely look at it that way. If you renew with eg 6 months left on it, it’s annoying because it’s only a 5 year passport but at the end of the day that’s £6 spent of holiday costs to avoid stress and/or extra expense!

Also if you always renew 6 months early from now on you’ll only ever have to waste this money once if you see what I mean! And better to do it while they are a child before it costs more lol