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AIBU?

Passport WWYD

87 replies

Chittering · 18/03/2023 15:37

We are going on holiday to Greece in the summer and returning on the 17th August. My kid's passports run out on the 7th December so they are fine but only just. I was planning to get them renewed so that I had no worries but now I've heard about the strikes and am thinking that sending them off could be a bad idea. Just wondering what others would do..has anyone had any problems with being just over 3 months? They will be about 3 months and two weeks on them
Yanbu....renew
Yabu...don't renew

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Am I being unreasonable?

AIBU

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LoveBluey · 18/03/2023 18:36

Have just applied for 2 adult renewals and 2 brand new kids passports and they've all been done within 4 weeks so even with the strikes if you're not going until July I'd do it just for the peace of mind. Otherwise it will be hanging over you right up until airport check in.

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MoneyInTheBananaStand · 18/03/2023 18:44

It's the date of issue that matters not the date on expiry since Brexit

Passports expire 10 years after date of issue, any added time doesn't count any more.

So is his passport within those guidelines? If it is you'll be fine.

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LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 18/03/2023 18:51

Janek · 18/03/2023 17:07

The only thing that would worry me would be if you had extra time added to the passports when you got them, so the expiry date is more than five years after the date of issue. If not, then I definitely wouldn't renew them now.

If you are then not traveling again till the following summer I would renew them in time for that. If you travel frequently then renew them on your return.

I think that’s only relevant for the 10 year adult passports and not the 5 year children ones

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BashfulClam · 18/03/2023 18:53

My passport took a week a few months ago and husbands less than a week. My friend sent off for her whole family just after that and her husbands and kids came back in a few weeks and 2 months later she has no passport. She has chased twice and just gets told it is ‘being processed’. In your case I would wait till after the holiday.

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LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 18/03/2023 18:54

MoneyInTheBananaStand · 18/03/2023 18:44

It's the date of issue that matters not the date on expiry since Brexit

Passports expire 10 years after date of issue, any added time doesn't count any more.

So is his passport within those guidelines? If it is you'll be fine.

Not true, for adult passports the date of issue matters but for children’s passports it is just the date of expiry taking in to account country requirements on how much should be left -3 months for eu. So if there are 3 months left it will be ok

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Thelittleweasel · 18/03/2023 19:00

Phew! Applied 11th Jan and sentpassport 14th Jan and absolutely no action so far and flying out 30th April. Impossible to contact anyone real at PO.

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Janek · 18/03/2023 19:00

Have you seen that explicitly @LiquoriceAllsorts2 ? I know the guidance seems to say that, but the same guidance I read initially said you needed six months left on your passport but just three. I wouldn't want to risk it. Indeed I didn't and dd1 lost fifteen months on her last passport!

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LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 18/03/2023 19:08

Janek · 18/03/2023 19:00

Have you seen that explicitly @LiquoriceAllsorts2 ? I know the guidance seems to say that, but the same guidance I read initially said you needed six months left on your passport but just three. I wouldn't want to risk it. Indeed I didn't and dd1 lost fifteen months on her last passport!

You don’t get it carried over anymore but if you do have extra on a child’s then it shouldn’t matter but I haven’t experienced it myself. There is a thing on the passport website where you put in issue date, expiry date and where you are going and it tells you if your passport is ok.

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Janek · 18/03/2023 19:25

Interesting, because that's what I used before renewing dd's passport! I thought it was wrong, but I just couldn't risk it!

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NBLarsen · 18/03/2023 20:29

You are only just scraping three months on the passport, I would renew it if I were you.
I just renewed mine - I did the online form and sent off my old passport then I received my new one 6 days later.
The strike doesn't begin for a couple of weeks yet, get it done now for peace of mind.

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Thelondonone · 18/03/2023 20:48

The rules are 3 months, you have 3 months. People saying ‘you are just scraping it’ are talking rubbish. 3 months is the rule, scraping or otherwise…. Why would you renew when you don’t need to, some people are mad!

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JudgeRudy · 18/03/2023 20:59

PlaneMum19 · 18/03/2023 16:33

I would renew now, cause if you’re denied entry or boarding that’s it. Holiday ruined, just apply for a new one now, it’s not worth risking it. do it this week online, take a photo online.

Why would you be denied entry if you have at least 3 months left? 3months and 1 day is plenty.

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MumOf2workOptions · 18/03/2023 21:36

I applied for some 3 weeks ago
1 adult renewal - 1 week
1 child lapsed - 10 days
1 child first passport - 2 weeks

Get them done now I'm sure you'll be fine the strikes are a while off yet

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NBLarsen · 18/03/2023 21:41

Thelondonone · 18/03/2023 20:48

The rules are 3 months, you have 3 months. People saying ‘you are just scraping it’ are talking rubbish. 3 months is the rule, scraping or otherwise…. Why would you renew when you don’t need to, some people are mad!

The rule is "at least 3 months". OP's son has 3 but less than 4 months. Airlines get hefty fines if they fly passengers without the correct documentation and some prefer not to take a risk.
If the child were to have an accident or become ill on holiday and not be able to fly home on the planned date they run a risk of missing the 3 month period. An airline may decide it's not a risk to take and deny them check-in.
I know someone this happened to. It's not madness, it's common sense to renew the passport now, with several months before the holiday.

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BlueHawaii · 18/03/2023 22:02

I'm having the same brain fart regarding this- my passport is 10 years old at the end of July 2023, but expires in April 2024...I'm going away loads up until June, will I be ok? 😅

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CouldIBeAnymoreOuting · 19/03/2023 08:47

I still find it confusing because entry requirements for EU say no more than 10 years from issue, and you also need 3 months left before expiry. So if my passport is 10 years old in Sept 23, but expiry is March 24, does that mean I can still travel in August 23 because I am within the 10 years and still have 3 months+ before my passport expiry date?

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LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 19/03/2023 11:54

CouldIBeAnymoreOuting · 19/03/2023 08:47

I still find it confusing because entry requirements for EU say no more than 10 years from issue, and you also need 3 months left before expiry. So if my passport is 10 years old in Sept 23, but expiry is March 24, does that mean I can still travel in August 23 because I am within the 10 years and still have 3 months+ before my passport expiry date?

No they class the expiry date as 10 year since issue so effectively if you are over 9 years and 9 months from issue you can’t travel

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CouldIBeAnymoreOuting · 19/03/2023 12:47

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 19/03/2023 11:54

No they class the expiry date as 10 year since issue so effectively if you are over 9 years and 9 months from issue you can’t travel

Thanks. The gov.uk entry requirements page for EU still doesn’t make it clear whether the 3 months+ passport validity needs to be within 10 years of your passport’s issue date.

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CouldIBeAnymoreOuting · 19/03/2023 13:28

This article also says the two expiry rules (10 years / 3 months) exist independently of each other: www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/passport-easyjet-compensation-denied-boarding-b2066803.html?amp

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BlueHawaii · 19/03/2023 14:59

That's reassuring! Thanks for posting that article. Put my mind at rest!

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Youcancallmeirrelevant · 19/03/2023 15:02

Check it is 3 months by using the start date of passport, in case the expiry has time added on which no longer counts.

If you genuinely have the 3 months i wouldn't renew

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NumberTheory · 19/03/2023 15:08

As an aside, does anyone know why countries want passports to have an extra 3 months on them?

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BernieWinters · 19/03/2023 17:34

Since reading this thread I've come to the realisation that if I want to go away in the summer I will need to renew my passport because although it doesn't expire til towards the end of this year, it was issued just over 10 years ago now.

The problem is I just applied to renew DS passport online a few days ago (the day before strike news hit) using my current passport number. If I apply to renew my own passport now and it somehow gets done before DS one, will his renewal get turned down because when they check my details the passport number I've given for myself will be invalid if the new passport has been processed?

I could wait in the hope that DS passport is a quick turn around and take my chances with the strike situation but if I can get it sent off now and give myself a couple of extra weeks I'd rather.

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Doublefacedcottonwoolpads · 19/03/2023 17:40

If you don't need to, don't. I renewed DS passport last year and it took nearly 4 months and only went through then because my MP got involved. Passport office could not have been less helpful and it was so stressful.

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NBLarsen · 19/03/2023 17:43

@NumberTheory It's simply to ensure your passport remains valid for the duration of your time in a country. For example, UK passport holders can only visit most European countries for a maximum of 90 days in any 180 day period. Therefore, your passport needs to have a minimum of those 90 days (i.e. at least 3 months) in case you need to stay for the maximum time allowed. Other countries ask for six months, etc.

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