Would you travel on these passports or renew?

[TedOnTheBed]

Travelling to Turkey on 20 September 2022 for 7 nights, all 3 kids passports expire 8 April 2023. The minimum amount of time left on a passport for entry is 6 months which is 20 March 2023 so the dc have 19 extra days remaining, I think it’s fine as meets the requirements dh thinks it’s a risk and we should renew. What would you do?

@touristina

I don't understand the point about issue dates and renewal dates. Surely the expiry date is the one that matters, which is clearly within the rules? (19 days is a fair window and allows for any nuances of how they might count the days.)

With that said do you have a reason to not renew, since it should be fairly straightforward? e.g. no planned travel for next several years anyway (given 5y expiry)

It’s because this is the entry to the Schengen area (most of EU) has two requirements:

1. Passport must be less than 10 years old
2. Passport must have at least 3 months remaining after the date you leave.

But as turkey is not in schengen it’s not relevant. Moral of the story is you must always check with the country you are travelling to!

We went to Turkey with a passport that had 5 days remaining after the 5 months were up (Turkey only needed 5 months when we went a couple of years ago). Despite being in time, the agent at boarding was determined to not let her on. I asked for someone more senior who vetoed her as we had time, but it was stressful. So whilst you might be ok rules wise, you might come across a jobsworth on a power trip.

And the 10 year from issue date only applies to adult passports as child passports are only valid for 5 years anyway.

As said it’s the date of issue you go by. B

@Koigarden

As said it’s the date of issue you go by. B

The issue date isn't an issue for a child passport

I wouldn't renew, but if one of you is worrying about it I'd do it just for that reason. No point worrying about it when you're supposed to be looking forward to it!

@touristina

I don't understand the point about issue dates and renewal dates. Surely the expiry date is the one that matters, which is clearly within the rules? (19 days is a fair window and allows for any nuances of how they might count the days.)

With that said do you have a reason to not renew, since it should be fairly straightforward? e.g. no planned travel for next several years anyway (given 5y expiry)

www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/travel-renew-passport-eu-expiration-rules-b2021606.html%3famp

Date of issue was 8 April 2018 the passport life is exactly 5 years no extra time was added.

Why would you renew and waste a whole year of a 5 year passport when they’re fine?!

Definitely no need to renew. You are within the legal rules. I had 1 day over 3 months for travel to Spain recently and it was no problem.

As pps have said you also need to check the issue dates. I work for a travel company and anyone booking now has this come up as important information that they have to tick to confirm they have read as a lot of people have been caught out by it.

I would not renew. You have 19 days over the 6 month.