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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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
Wowwe · 16/02/2022 18:23

We all went Spain last year and my brothers daughter (5) only had 1 month left of her passport and they made a few calls and let her through. They said because she’s a child and everyone else in the family had valid passports, they would over see it . Hope this helps x

Noolablue10 · 16/02/2022 18:25

I renewed my 11 year olds passport on line, including photo. No face to face. It took 13 days. Received new passport this morning. Could you try emergency route?

JanefromLondon · 16/02/2022 18:28

So we’ve been in this exact situation 3 years ago. About to go away for May half term to find out DC passport out of date by a week.
Get yourself to a passport office. Get any appointment and take child, birth certificate, and all documentation you can think of.
We got a passport in a day despite ALL info on website saying it wasn’t possible.
We got there at 12pm and managed to get done by 5.30pm. Reason for taking child is in case photos not quite right, both parents to assure them one parent not escaping country against other parents will, all birth certificates, old/current passport, holiday details, family passports - all came in handy. Honestly it was the most stressful day. But it is possible. Good luck!

HelloFrostyMorning · 16/02/2022 18:34

@WombatChocolate

Given Brexit has happened, bringing a number of changes in this kind of area, you could reasonably be expected to check your passports complied with CURRENT requirements, SOONER than a week before.

Yes, Brexit has changed the duration required for this particular destination (and I am not a supporter of Brexit) BUT this isn’t about whether this problem arising is due to Brexit or the Op.

When you plan to travel abroad, a basic admin thing is to check the passport dates for all the family members travelling…..usually at the time of booking, or in good time to act if one needs renewing. This was the case before Brexit and now. It is even more the case given Brexit has brought in changes and due to Covid many of us haven’t been abroad since Brexit, so need to properly families ourselves with the new current requirements.

The fact is, Op didn’t do that.

The fact is, she asked for advice and when people reported facts about the point she would be turned away, she was rude and told them not to comment further on the thread….when once it’s been opened, is open to everyone. She asked them not to state what she could read herself……but of course if she could read it herself, why would you need a thread anyway. And this was after numerous people had to,d her there would be NO reports of people who had got away with it, which is what she really wanted to hear. The reality wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

Most people would be a bit sympathetic to the situation Op found herself in. An admin failure can happen to any of us. When it does, we can feel disappointed but have to accept responsibility too. Where OP lost much of the sympathy she probably would have had, was in her rudeness to posters who spent their time replying to the question she asked, and also in never really being willing to accept any responsibility for what had happened.

Yes, we all get that the situation was stressful. None of us would like to find ourselves in the situation, and it happens to lots of people, because basic failures of admin happen all the time. Op hadn’t committed a terrible crime but a failure of organisation and was hoping to wing it and get through and that the rules might be just a bit flexible….wasn’t prepared to accept that this isn’t the case when several people had explained it, but kept hoping longer, that somehow, those who said they weren’t flexible would be wrong, or still she could squeeze her way through. Stressed doesn’t mean you can be rude. Appreciating and understanding when you’ve been rude, or made a mistake is a basic expectation we can have of adults.

So how did Op come across? A bit disorganised not to have checked….no-one really minds that…we can all imagine it happening to us too. But rude and arrogant is what people didn’t like in the early part of this thread. Brexit clearly played a role in this, in terms of it determining a specific length of time needed for this particular location , that the passport would have got them into pre-Covid, but given as others mentioned, the fact OP hadn’t checked the passports means it could have easily fully expired anyway, or that a failure to check passports or current requirements given all the changes that have about due to Covid, means allowing this to happen was even more daft. Not having a passport a week before the holiday lies at the Op’s feet, not Brexits. All the other people getting on that plane next week will have lived through Covid too and no doubt many of them will have had to check their passports and renew them.

OP unfortunately came across as the kind of person you meet in real life who has made a basic error, but rather than acknowledging their part in it, arrogantly is sure there must be a way for them to get what they want and surely the rules can’t apply to them, and surely there must be a way to sneak through. And at the same time as someone who dismisses anyone who speaks reason (often in a kind way) and is read shouts louder ‘tell me the way I can circumvent the rules…I cannot believe it’s not possible’. People generally don’t like these characteristics. But then I guess people with such characteristics are rarely going to have the self awareness to spot them, and if they do, won’t have the humility to acknowledge them, much less to apologise to those they’ve been rude to…because they always feel justified in their own behaviour.

Anyway, regardless of all that…I hope OP that you do get your passports or postpone your holiday and can all go. I can see this is a horrible stressful position, regardless of the causes. And perhaps when you’re lying on a beach or going onto the plane at whichever point that is, you’ll remember the many pages of this thread and laugh, and instead of thinking of ‘the bitches on MN’ think instead about a thread, which perhaps made you think about a few things, even if you’d never admit them in real life or on MN itself.

Genuinely, I hope your family get their holiday and you all have a lovely time.

100% this. ^ I am sick to DEATH of people blaming Brexit, because they booked a holiday, and couldn't be arsed to check if the passports of ALL members of the family had enough time left on them. The situation is 100% their OWN FAULT.

Why on earth someone would book a holiday abroad, without checking the passport expiry dates of every family member, just baffles me.

Then again, as I said, this shit only happens on mumsnet. I don't know a SINGLE PERSON in real life, who this has happened to. People generally have the prudence to check everyone's passport expiry dates. Or - like with myself and many people I know, they KNOW when they expire.

Fortunately, common sense is starting to prevail on here, and many more posters are also stating the FACT that the OP's predicament is nothing to do with Brexit, and is HER FAULT.

For the UMPTEENTH TIME........ THIS IS NOTHING TO DO WITH BREXIT!

bpirockin · 16/02/2022 18:39

I once escorted two young children back from Australia, not realising that their parents had been so wrapped up in clearing the Federal Watchlist situation, to check expiry dates. Their passports had expired. It was not until the third time anyone checked them that the error was spotted and we were escorted back.

I hope you are able to find a way round this, whatever happened to standing in a queue in London for such last-minute cock-ups?

rosyAndMoo · 16/02/2022 18:40

Just looked online line for fast track child renewal (1 week service) and saw 10 appointments in Belfast for tomorrow and 2 in London… guessing you just checked your local office….

Thesepostsmakemechuckle · 16/02/2022 18:45

Ignore them...they love making you feel worse than you already do. I had a child passport done in two days and when they realised they weren't going to get it to me in time to go to France, they sent a courier to meet me at the ferry port with it. If you pay to upgrade and tell them your date and time they generally bust a gut to do it. I sent everything off and then called to upgrade as soon as they had received all the docs. It was all fine!

Slightly different scenario....we went to Ireland at Christmas and my daughter's passport only had a month left on it. They were so busy checking everyone's PCRs, passenger locator forms that they barely glanced at the passports. To be fair, it doesn't have to have the obligatory length for Ireland so not quite the same. My friend also travelled with 2 mths for her child and they just said make sure you don't do it again but this was pre Brexit. Good luck... these things happen

popmimiboo · 16/02/2022 18:46

@Louisianagumbo

Pre Brexit, you could travel until your passport was out of date. Now the UK is a third country, you need 6 months validity before you go and a lot of people have been caught out by this change. So yes, another Brexit bonus.

This is rubbish. People always had to check their passports for the expiry date, it's just now for the EU it's 3 months earlier. The op didn't check the passport and think: oh I can travel up to the last day. She just didn't check the passport. Period. I got caught out similarly when going to Australia. I just hadn't checked when my passport was up. Why can't people take responsibility for their own mistake rather than blame brexit, which happened two years ago and over which there's been a zillion warnings given.

Erm, Australia isn't in the EU!! Pre Brexit, UK had freedom of movement in the EU Wink
Oscarsdaddy · 16/02/2022 18:54

Your 10 year old son will be refused boarding so don’t even bother going to the airport

Londoncallingme · 16/02/2022 18:55

It’s FINE - my DH was allowed to travel with his passport expiring whilst we were away. They just said he might have trouble getting back in, he didn’t.
I’ve also travelled with my married name on tickets and maiden name on passport. Both times to Italy.

Eemaellis · 16/02/2022 18:55

This happened to my neighbour in November last year same 2 months left and he was able to fly no problem

THEDEACON · 16/02/2022 19:04

Your child isn't going to Spain it's as simple as that As you say you can read then you know that

Hotair1234 · 16/02/2022 19:08

Yes, I’ve been in this situation. My daughters passport ran out the day after we were due to get back. I was worried any flight delay would mean we were stuck but I rolled the dice and went and came back. It could be a fluke and I know I’d have been happier if we got an appointment but it’s valid until it runs out. I don’t envy you but it’s possible is all I’m adding. Best of luck xx

keeptheaspidistra · 16/02/2022 19:08

@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 .
So only comment if we are going to say exactly what you want us to say even if its advice that doesn't match the facts and reality of the situation? Ok, got it.
Nocutenamesleft · 16/02/2022 19:11

@SmorgasBorb

Hang on OP you asked quite specifically what happened when someone turned up with not enough time on their passport. Helpful PPS 'kindly' told you the rules and that you would be turned away. Many with direct expertise on those rules. They were of course right.

Other helpful and kind PPs suggested emergency appointments. You and they all agreed it doesn't happen anymore
This wasn't good enough for you and you were quite rude about it. You said you knew the rules already so didn't want that spouted back at you. No you wanted actual real life experiences.

People told you actual real life experiences which backed up the rules you said you'd read. Many many have sympathised and then you blamed Brexit. Yes its a factor, yes it's annoying and yes the change in rules means it's worse for you but 'being kind' isn't going to change that. No one can pull strings for you here. I don't know what you were expecting? An immigration officer to offer a dodgy deal?

Yes the 'it's your fault you should have done x' posts aren't particularly helpful but it's one of those learning experiences. The point is that there is nothing that can be done and it's not anyone else's fault. In these situations you take it on the chin and move forward. 99% of people on this thread have shared their knowledge and experiences and tried to be helpful but because no one (except one person who offered a fanciful story of pilot begging) said 'yes darling we pitched up with a whole family of expired passports and they don't look so go for it, you'll be fine babe' you have assumed everyone has been 'unkind'. It's far kinder to say to you early as possible 'no, make other arrangements, here's the rules' than string you along with fanciful possibilities of inattentive gate staff or bribable pilots.

This. In abundance!,,
bossyrossy · 16/02/2022 19:13

Please tell us what happened.

Grrrrdarling · 16/02/2022 19:13

@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
Call the passport office. You can’t renew kids passports in person but this is an exceptional reason so they may make an exception.
Topseyt · 16/02/2022 19:18

It isn't an exceptional reason at all. She forgot to check the child's passport far enough in advance of going on holiday to Spain on Saturday.

Mirw · 16/02/2022 19:22

Surely the first thing you do before booking a holiday is check your passports! Or is it only me that does that? Leave him at home and the rest of you go? Or you stay at home with him and the rest of the family go? His whinging fir the week will make checking passports the first thing you think about before booking in the future...

IcyWinterWonderland · 16/02/2022 19:24

Well you should have checked your child's passport before booking a holiday. Surely that is common sense?

IcyWinterWonderland · 16/02/2022 19:26

@Grrrrdarling An exceptional reason? Seriously? OP not even bothering to check her kid's passport is NOT an exceptional reason. So no, special allowances should not be made for her. Talk about entitlement.

August1980 · 16/02/2022 19:27

Hi OP, I had an adult friend being turned away at the airport (ski trip) he had just under 3 months too

whenthedoveslie · 16/02/2022 19:36

@olympicsrock

Right I’m out. Thanks to those who were kind and supportive and made me laugh. Actually many of you on here were horrible , patronising and humourless. Don’t others say “bloody brexit or bloody boris” with a wry smile when something is a bit shit? Of course it’s my own fault but the rules have changed and the passport would not have been in valid for travel prebrexit.

Has made me question whether mumsnet is something I can be bothered with ( after 11 years!)
Quoting the rules at someone repetitively who already knows there is a problem or saying ‘it’s your own fault” is not helpful particularly when someone is hugely stressed.

Who on earth has such a easy/ boring life that they have expiry dates for everything engrained on their brain???
Some of us are just doing our best as mums to juggle a huge number of balls .

Bow out you should @olympicsrock

It is most unfortunate that MN posters cannot change international border and immigration rules to suit your poor planning.

I suggest google calendar and reminders going forward.

MabelsApron · 16/02/2022 19:40

I have to say that the brexit vote makes more sense when you see threads full of posters advising that it’ll be fine because they did it when going somewhere that they’ve not realised is a non-EU country, and therefore irrelevant to Spain…

rifling · 16/02/2022 19:50

If you really can't get a new one then I would be tempted to give it a go anyway. Pre-Brexit I took my children abroad on out of date documents and I don't know whether they didn't notice or took pity on me but nobody stopped me! (I didn't know in advance, only realised afterwards and they weren't scanned so it wasn't automatically flagged up). Good luck OP!