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AIBU?

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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
rifling · 16/02/2022 19:51

And yes - Bloody Brexit!!!

HelloFrostyMorning · 16/02/2022 19:54

@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 pre-brexit. This 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.

@whenthedoveslie

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.

Grin

Also, no I NEVER say 'Bloody Boris' or 'Bloody Brexit' when something that goes wrong is 100% MY fault.

linsey2581 · 16/02/2022 19:55

I’m not sure why your blaming brexit? It’s your responsibility to check all documents especially passports are all correct and check them well in advance so you can allow for any hiccups.

HelloFrostyMorning · 16/02/2022 19:56

@rifling

And yes - Bloody Brexit!!!
@rifling

And yes - Bloody Brexit, is NOTHING to do with your issue OP. This was your poor life-admin skills...

Fixed that for you.

You're welcome.... Smile

HelloFrostyMorning · 16/02/2022 20:00

@linsey2581

I’m not sure why your blaming brexit? It’s your responsibility to check all documents especially passports are all correct and check them well in advance so you can allow for any hiccups.
Beggars belief doesn't it?

Some people blame Brexit for the rain, the snow, their headaches, their smelly farts, their cold chips, their insomnia, their flat tyre, the footie being on instead of Coronation Street, their weight gain, their period pains, the storms we have this week... etc etc etc........

Let them get on with it. They can rant and rave, but it doesn't change the fact that what has happened to the OP is her own fault. NOT the fault of Brexit.

HelterSkelter224 · 16/02/2022 20:03

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

LaDamaDeElche · 16/02/2022 20:05

@rifling

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!
Really bad advice. I'm resident in Spain and since Brexit their border controls are very tight. They won't get in. People who lived here couldn't get in with proof of the deeds of their property and letters saying their application for residency was in progress during the pandemic. If you haven't got a TIE card, you need six months left on your passport or you will be put straight back on a plane to the U.K. (if you manage to get through at the U.K end).
CeeceeBloomingdale · 16/02/2022 20:06

@Londoncallingme

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.
It really isn't FINE, he will be denied boarding unless by some sheer fluke the airline misses it. If it's then picked up on arrival in Spain the airline will be fined and he will returned to the UK immediately. The flights will be used and not refunded because it's the passengers responsibility to have the correct travel documents.

Also Italy is not in Spain, different rules may apply. Perhaps you travelled before Brexit. Your anecdotes are misleading OP into thinking there are exceptions. There should never be exceptions, other than special permissions granted on the day of travel only. This would be repatriating someone to their home country only and where travel documents have been reported stolen at destination to the local police for example, not for a half term jolly to Spain.

Roxy69 · 16/02/2022 20:11

@Sammysquiz

Christ, you’re rude. I commented on your thread because I know for a fact that he’d be refused entry, and it’s totally irrelevant how many anecdotal posts you get from people saying they were turned away.

I’m sorry he won’t get to travel, but don’t take it out on us.

Quite right.
girasol · 16/02/2022 20:14

@daimbarsatemydogsbone

Ireckon when it comes to passports, visas etc there are two sorts of posters here..those that have already been caught out by organisational issues and those who will be. What a load of shite. I have never been caught out by this sort of issue because I always check. It’s not hard.
I hate to break it to you @daimbarsatemydogsbone but it’s you that is talking a load of shite - as evidenced by the fact that the Home Office had to withdraw its own advice on validity of UK passports in Europe post Brexit because they had got it wrong! So good luck in finding definitive advice when even the UK government can’t get it right. 🤣

‘Check passports’ plea to travellers heading for EU

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/3268f8e4-85e6-11ec-b939-57ea9f594ba1?shareToken=75d571ab1fa7a259db5f44e7b5f5b07a

Legalconundrums · 16/02/2022 20:15

Don't ask a question if you don't want to hear the answer. .especially not on MN..

Mumtoalmost4 · 16/02/2022 20:16

No advice but I’m sorry, this must be stressful! I hope you can sort something so you can all enjoy a family holiday together xx

Jaxxy · 16/02/2022 20:25

Pre Brexit, you might have got away with it as they Spanish authorities just glanced at your passport and waved you through. We travel to Spain frequently and they are now scanning passports & stamping them in and out and the system is calculating that you are not exceeding your 90 days and that you have an eligible passport ie enough time left on it. They will just send you back to UK if you have managed to get through the airport check.

KneadingKitty · 16/02/2022 20:25

"I can read" ...why didn't you use your reading skills to check the passport before now then?!

IcyWinterWonderland · 16/02/2022 20:32

@KneadingKitty Grin

Tirtytreeandaturd · 16/02/2022 20:35

Find a lookalike child friend with a valid passport and name change the ticket . You’ll be in the clink if you’re caught though!

Talk4000 · 16/02/2022 20:41

We went to Spain from the UK at half-term in October just gone. DS's passport had 6 months and 1 day left. He is 9.

On the day we came back at the Spanish airport, the Easyjet crew checked, then rechecked, then followed us onto the plane again to check again that the passport was valid. They wrote down his passport number and as we walked off the staff member radioed, radioed a bit more. I started to get quite worried we'd be kicked off the plane coming home. She came onto the plane and asked to see the passport again and said the number into the radio. My heart was thumping.

We had 6 months and 1 day exactly left when we left from UK from the expiry date. When we came back we had 5 months and 26 days left.

I think with 2 months left on your child's passport there is every chance you will be stopped and not allowed to go. You won't even get out of the UK. It says a minimum of three I think, from memory.

I'm sorry this isn't the news you'd probably want to hear but if you don't change your flights you'll have lost every penny.

Or you need an emergency passport appointment asap.

August1980 · 16/02/2022 20:44

@KneadingKitty

"I can read" ...why didn't you use your reading skills to check the passport before now then?!
Shock
LittleBearPad · 16/02/2022 21:06

Well we can guess the muppets who voted for Brexit and all it’s stupidities can’t we.

Bunnycat101 · 16/02/2022 21:14

I would also say to anyone thinking of renewing, it seems pretty slow at the moment so don’t leave it too long. I did one child’s passport last year and it was back within 5 days. We’re waiting on one and reckon it could be 5/6 weeks minimum.

I wasn’t aware of the 10 year validity so will need to check that as I’m sure mine has had extra time added.

Meredusoleil · 16/02/2022 21:21

@Bunnycat101

I would also say to anyone thinking of renewing, it seems pretty slow at the moment so don’t leave it too long. I did one child’s passport last year and it was back within 5 days. We’re waiting on one and reckon it could be 5/6 weeks minimum.

I wasn’t aware of the 10 year validity so will need to check that as I’m sure mine has had extra time added.

We recently renewed my dd2's passport online as it was due to expire 9 days after our holiday booked for Easter. On the government website it said it could take up to 10 weeks currently! We got the new one after about 3 weeks and the old one was returned 10 days after that.

Definitely allow plenty of time to get it done imho.

Bunnycat101 · 16/02/2022 21:24

And I’ve just checked mine and I would fall foul of the 10 year thing so have put a reminder in my calendar to renew over a year before it actually expires. I could see how people could cock that up quite easily.

Mumofthreecheekyboys · 16/02/2022 23:02

What if one of you developed Covid? (or had a positive lft, Google it!) ..you might be able to postpone free of charge!?

Queenbee77 · 16/02/2022 23:23

Can you make an appointment with the Embassy/ Consulate near your holiday destination before you go and get a reference you can show at the airport? Then get a new passport while you are away? I would be at the passport office in the morning if I was you. Ask where in this country can I get a passport today and go there...Glasgow? London Durham.....I believe there are a few. Dont waste any more time.....just go where you can get one.......

mylifestory · 16/02/2022 23:26

I got stuck in the nightmare of passport renewal a few years ago which was taking months. Realised my passport was lost t this was april so plenty of time to get 1 for summee. Not! I managed to get hold of someone on the phone there very early 1 morning which was very unexpected bt i told them i made the bbc trsvel shows and it was for me. He admitted my passport hadnt even been looked at and it was now 10 days before my holiday bt he wd see to it. It turned up by bike the next day! So there is a way!! definitely try calling and i wdnt take no for an answer .... good luck. I usually check all passports in january now!!