Son's passport expiring - family hols in ruins

[blueshoes]

Dh and I were looking forward to our family holiday in Crete, Greece for the October half term. We watched the covid-19/PCR situation closely not realising that my 15 year old son's passport has less than 3 months. Just found out today. This is our first foreign holiday since covid struck.

The government website says that for entry to Greece, your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave Greece, or any other Schengen country.

We leave on 30 October and my son's passport expires just short of 3 months on 22 January 2022. It is too late to renew his passport as we are leaving in less than a week.

Ds cannot come with us, can he? We f_ked up.

Anybody recently travelled to Greece with Ryanair with less than 3 months left on their passport? Is it a bad idea to turn up and chance it or bite the bullet now and plan on the basis ds cannot go.

[Fere]

In the first post she said We leave on 30 October . Has that been not correct?

[blueshoes]

My son is getting his passport photo taken now. We will renew his passport in the usual way without fast track because the requirement of an appointment for fast track is actually slowing things down. Cost is not an issue.

Plan B, we won't leave ds at home alone. He has lined to stay with his friends one a day and is actually quite excited about it. He said he now prefers that to coming on holiday with us - ouch - he is 15 years old. There will be other holidays that he will come with us. I know that makes us bad parents.

[Blankspace4]

Why are so many people saying OP absolutely CANNOT a leave a 15 year old? He’s not 5! And clearly they wouldn’t be leaving him alone (I assume!) but with family.

Yes they’ve fucked up but mistakes do happen. OP doesn’t deserve to be crucified!

[Highlandskye]

You CAN leave him behind. Don’t know why people are saying you can’t. People leave theirs kids and go and work in other countries for months / years. Another suggestion…. could you do a date change for one or you (adults) and him, and come a couple days later? This is all depending on the express service not working out (still a chance it will). Lastly. For those that are saying you haven’t had a holiday for ages……it’s not about YOU. Op has asked for advice. If you haven’t anything constructive to add. Don’t hate

[blueshoes]

@Fere

In the first post she said We leave on 30 October . Has that been not correct?

Fere, I wasn't clear. We leave London on 22 Oct and leave Greece on 30 Oct. The 3 month passport requirement runs from the date of departure from Greece.

[Wazzzzzzzup]

@Fere

In the first post she said We leave on 30 October . Has that been not correct?

I think that means leave from crete

[Wazzzzzzzup]

X posted

[TheOccupier]

God, all the pearl clutching about leaving DS behind! He's 15. He might not even be bothered!

[Wazzzzzzzup]

@Highlandskye

You CAN leave him behind. Don’t know why people are saying you can’t. People leave theirs kids and go and work in other countries for months / years. Another suggestion…. could you do a date change for one or you (adults) and him, and come a couple days later? This is all depending on the express service not working out (still a chance it will). Lastly. For those that are saying you haven’t had a holiday for ages……it’s not about YOU. Op has asked for advice. If you haven’t anything constructive to add. Don’t hate

It is fundamentally different to plan to go without so everyone knows where they stand and to just drop the child because you fucked something up.

[Grilledaubergines]

@GladAllOver

Another great Brexit gain!

It’s been a rule for years with a great many countries (European) that you needed time on your passport (and it was 6 months) on your return date. F-all to do with Brexit.

[2lsinllama]

@Fere

In the first post she said We leave on 30 October . Has that been not correct?

I’m confused with dates too. Half term (here at least) starts on Friday 22nd so that would be ‘this Friday’. 30 October is ‘next Friday’ surely?

[25yearsnhsworker]

Keep checking the fast track appts. DD was in same position and they seemed to change a lot and she luckily got one as soon as you see a good One book. Probs get cancellations a lot of the time.

[LowlandLucky]

Clymene Turkey is not part of the E.U

[SophieHatterPendragon]

It’s a bit shit OP but I don’t think you can get a fast track passport for kids as a measure against child abduction. My ex had a similar issue in the summer and the result was DS was sent home to me while the rest of them went on holiday because it wasn’t possible to sort it in time.

[NavigatingAdolescence]

@blueshoes

My son is getting his passport photo taken now. We will renew his passport in the usual way without fast track because the requirement of an appointment for fast track is actually slowing things down. Cost is not an issue.

Plan B, we won't leave ds at home alone. He has lined to stay with his friends one a day and is actually quite excited about it. He said he now prefers that to coming on holiday with us - ouch - he is 15 years old. There will be other holidays that he will come with us. I know that makes us bad parents.

Standard child renewals are currently taking up to 5 weeks. My DD’s took 4 weeks - arrived at end Sept.

[Fere]

Get the passport for one week from this Monday and one of you will go on the 21 and the other will get to Crete on that Monday 25th. No other option

[Potpourri23]

Imagine being an adult and thinking back to that time your parents went on holiday without you because they'd fucked up your passport renewal and they shipped you off to a friend you could visit any old time and told people with a tinkly laugh that you had chosen that option for yourself

[Inthemuckheap]

As someone said earlier - have you tried all the passport offices? Colleague's son had his renewed in Glasgow within a couple of days as that's where they could get an appointment - had to fly up there to have it renewed but you said cost isn't a factor.

[Apandemicyousay]

OP, there was a lot Of stuff in the press about this over the summer. The uK government website is out of date and you need six months left on passport to enter Greece. There were people coming running into this in August and press articles highlighting poor gov.uk advice

[blueshoes]

highland, blankspace thanks for the support. Dh and I totally balls-ed up. We were (and are) working so hard that we dropped some plates. I know it is not an excuse.

[MyPatronusIsACat]

@Potpourri23

Imagine being an adult and thinking back to that time your parents went on holiday without you because they'd fucked up your passport renewal and they shipped you off to a friend you could visit any old time and told people with a tinkly laugh that you had chosen that option for yourself

This. Beggars belief doesn't it? I could never have done this to anyone - let alone a 15 year old child. I would not have done it, even if that 'child' was 21!

[XelaM]

I would chance it OP. As long as your son has a valid passport it shouldn't be a problem

[3luckystars]

I would try my best to get a passport renewed but would just go anyway, and bring him too.

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

You can do it in a day. I did once. Expensive, and a lot of hanging around, but worth it.,