Aibu to remind you all to check your passports

[Theimpossiblegirl]

Just that really. Every year we have the panic as holidays draw near and people realise they have expired.
I just renewed mine and dds but hadn't realised mine needed doing until I checked.
Online is cheaper now too.
If posting this saves just one person getting to that awful panic of trying to get it done last minute I'll be happy. :)

Will brexit affect the EHIC provision?

Will check ours. But I know they are fine.
I am always astonished how people get to the last day..... didn't they get their passports out when booking the holiday?

I would have thought it would, yes Uniglo

Oblomov it's happened to me. No, I didn't get passports out when booking, Why would I?

I only looked when checking in for the flight online about a week before we went. Then I realised DD1's passport had expired the day previously. It was rather stressful. I've been paranoid since!

Idontbelieve I got a same day renewal for my DS. So they DO do them for children.

but yes it was incredibly stressful and the only appointment I could get was at a passport office many many miles away from where I live.

I too am militant about ours now.

They used to soup but not any more.

There is no same-day renewal for children any more soup

When did it stop? My panic with DS wasn't that long ago...

My panic was three years ago I think.

It's defintely not available for children

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Also a worthwhile reminder for checking latest official advice when preparing for holidays

Our ehic cards came in three days. That was two weeks ago so pp who was worried about being on holiday in two weeks should be fine. Also even without the cards you are covered. Look at the faq's on the website. There is a number to call if needed abroad if you have applied but cards not arrived in time.

Thanks OP. Didn't actually know you could renew 9 months before expiry and get the time added on to the new p/port, so that's really useful.

Thanks OP! I had vaguely remembered a few weeks ago that I needed to check and probably renew the DC's. Then it leaked out of my brain again! :o

Also ESTAs - you need one for the United States even if you are only changing planes there!

Ours were renewed a couple of years ago, but DD are on child passports. Their’s will need renewing next year.

We had this - I was in the shower 2 weeks before we flew to Spain and it suddenly occured to me to check so I shouted down to DH to get them out. His and DS' passports were fine but mine had less than 6 months left. It was fine for Spain but a good job we weren't flying outside of the EU.

Yep, I nearly got caught out on this recently! We booked our appointment to hand in our marriage notice and I needed a valid passport. Luckily they squeezed us in before mine expires next month!

Also don;t fall for ESTA fake sites that charge anything more than the 14 dollars it actually costs!

I nearly did, because google was listing a scan site as its top search result...

👍🏼

I don't understand how you can not know when your passport is going to expire. You have ten years to learn the date. I have known for years mine expires this year so renewed it in January.

I don't understand how you can not know when your passport is going to expire.

You can't be that obtuse! Most people don't use their passports more than once a year, so it's pretty easy to see how it happens. Before going abroad last year, my passport had been sat in the drawer for four years.

Of course most people check before booking a holiday but it's easy to see how people can forget or not realise until it's too late.

3 of our passports need renewing next year. Renewed ds's ehic a few weeks ago

My passport expired 10 years ago, since ex didn't like going abroad. Now I am not with ex, I'm renewing soon and looking forward to travelling.

Brexit will change everything!

Can someone please answer the question I posted in Chat. If you do the online application, do you need to put your name on the back of the photos you send off?

I did mine a few weeks ago- fill in the form on line (you will need details from your old passport).
Take a selfie, or get a friend to take one, following the guidelines on the website.
Upload your selfie when prompted by the online form.

You will get an email confirmation they have got your form.

Send your old passport back by snail mail to the address they give you (I sent mind recorded delivery).
They send you an email confirming they have your old passport.

You get another email confirming your application is accepted.
Another email saying your passport has been dispatched.
Passport arrives by post, along with your old one, now marked "cancelled".
HTH