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Original poster

Child’s passport only has 2 months on it. Flying to Spain on Saturday!

668 replies

olympicsrock · 15/02/2022 10:39

Help!!!
Just discovered that my 10 year old son’s passport only has 2 months left on it. We have flights booked to go to Spain on Saturday. .

Has anyone travelled to Spain on this situation recently? What happened?? Were you refused permission to board the plane?
I have phoned the passport office . There is absolutely no way to get a passport for him in the next 10 days as need to do face to face for child renewal , no appointments til next week abs then a week to deliver by post.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
BlingLoving · 15/02/2022 10:44

Passport validity
If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must meet the Schengen area rules.

Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

Based on the above, your DC will not be allowed to leave the UK as UK border control will establish that they do not hold a sufficiently valid passport and you will be turned away.

Sammysquiz · 15/02/2022 10:45

They won’t let him in I’m afraid - he needs to have 3 months left from the day you leave Spain as a minimum.

thunderonlyhappenswhenits · 15/02/2022 10:45

Emergency appointment for new passport ? Or is it cutting it too fine?

thunderonlyhappenswhenits · 15/02/2022 10:46

Sorry should've read your op properly !

ENoeuf · 15/02/2022 10:47

Face to face for a child renewal? We’ve never done that. What a nightmare for you.

Original poster
olympicsrock · 15/02/2022 10:48

Yes - I know what the requirements are. I’m
Wondering if anyone was in this situation and what happened when they went to the airport

OP posts:
PerfectlyImperfectme · 15/02/2022 10:48

Too late & I'd imagine you'll be refused boarding but it might be worth it asking your airline

Triffid1 · 15/02/2022 10:50

@olympicsrock

Yes - I know what the requirements are. I’m Wondering if anyone was in this situation and what happened when they went to the airport
This isn't the equivalent of a restaurant agreeing to squeeze an extra seat round a table. These are legal requirements which means that the outcome is understood, clearly spelled out and consistent - you will not be allowed to board the plane.
Sammysquiz · 15/02/2022 10:52

He will definitely be refused boarding. It’s not up to the airline, it’s border control & they won’t be able to make an exception.

ENoeuf · 15/02/2022 11:01

Is it worth trying the online premium? Its a week?

hangrylady · 15/02/2022 11:03

Eeek! Call up and beg? Might be worth a shot.

Nutellanjam · 15/02/2022 11:04

Hi This happened to a family member (child ) last month, although they didn’t realize and got to departure gate and were refused boarding. Hope you can sort it out before

Ostryga · 15/02/2022 11:05

There is no exceptions. You either get an emergency passport or don’t go. Those are literally the only options.

olympicsrock · 15/02/2022 11:05

This reply has been deleted

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WouldIBeATwat · 15/02/2022 11:06

@olympicsrock

Yes - I know what the requirements are. I’m Wondering if anyone was in this situation and what happened when they went to the airport
Someone on the radio this morning called in from the airport having been refused travel to Tenerife for exactly that reason. The rest of the family went.

Sorry OP.

Lockheart · 15/02/2022 11:07

Oh no, sorry OP. I agree with above PPs that turning up to the airport and winging it is not likely to go well for you. Even if you do make it onto the plane (which I'm not sure you would), then immigration control at Spain should stop you.

Is there any way you can postpone / rebook? What does your travel insurance say?

harriethoyle · 15/02/2022 11:07

Wow. You are really rude OP. There's no need.

Triffid1 · 15/02/2022 11:08

@Nutellanjam

Hi This happened to a family member (child ) last month, although they didn’t realize and got to departure gate and were refused boarding. Hope you can sort it out before
This is what happens. I know you don't want me to comment further but I really don't understand the magical thinking here. Are you hoping someone will come along and say, don't worry, it was all fine? But I'll leave now. It is SHIT when a passport expires unexpectedly - we had to do an emergency dash to get one for DD last year (although we had a bit more time than you) and it was frustrating as hell. SO I feel your pain. But it won't change the outcome.
GiltEdges · 15/02/2022 11:09

@olympicsrock

Online premium is adults only Sammy’s quiz and Triffid - please don’t comment further. I can read. I understand the rules. I am wondering if anyone has actually been in this situation and what happened .
But why are you wondering this? There’s only one thing that can happen i.e. your child won’t be allowed to board the plane. No one on Mumsnet can advise you any differently than that, because that’s the law and border officials aren’t in the habit of making exceptions to the law.
ENoeuf · 15/02/2022 11:09

Sorry I meant fast track which is within a week and worth a punt?

Lockheart · 15/02/2022 11:09

@olympicsrock

Online premium is adults only Sammy’s quiz and Triffid - please don’t comment further. I can read. I understand the rules. I am wondering if anyone has actually been in this situation and what happened .
They're telling you what will happen, I'm afraid. If you're looking for anecdotes about how someone managed to sneak through under the radar and it was all fine then I think you will be looking for a while. It's gutting, I know, but if there is no way to get him a passport before Saturday then your energy would be better spent rearranging if at all possible.
BlingLoving · 15/02/2022 11:09

@olympicsrock

Online premium is adults only Sammy’s quiz and Triffid - please don’t comment further. I can read. I understand the rules. I am wondering if anyone has actually been in this situation and what happened .
This was admittedly pre-covid, but a friend in a similar situation got a face to face appointment in another city for her and her DC. Cost them a fortune in train tickets to travel to, I think, Manchester for a day, but they got the emergency passport and were able to go on holiday. Perhaps that's an option for you?
FabulouslyFab · 15/02/2022 11:10

Vassos on the Chris Evans radio show had his family refused on a flight to Tenerife for this reason this morning!
Sorry OP.

Ratched · 15/02/2022 11:11

You will be refused boarding.
I am in Spain at the moment, left UK last Friday and a woman in front of me was denied boarding as she had 2months 3 weeks left to 4un on her passport (as she told anyone who would listen).
There are no exceptions. As I understand it, if the airline let you fly, you would be denied entry to Spain, sent straight home and the airline would be fined.
Disclaimer: not sure on the airline being fined, but the woman on the check-in desk was saying this.

Do not just turn up,,they will send you packing.