Passport - WWYD

[RIBlue]

Just found out that I need to travel to Belgium for a couple of days first week in March. Passport expires 22nd March.

My understanding was that this is fine and the needing 6 months left won’t come in to play until 2021. Friends are making me doubt this and now possibly thinking that I should renew online immediately. I’m then worried that this is only 4 weeks away and I might be left with no passport at all if there’s a delay!

I'd make an appointment to go into the passport office and get it renewed that day.

I renewed mine online last Monday night, and the new one is being delivered tomorrow. I got my photo done in one of the Photo-Me booths in Boots that gives you a digital code to enter on your application, and that guarantees your photo meets every requirement.

No reason to suppose you need 6 months on passport. All the official advice I've seen has been that nothing has changed re travelling & that we should still use the EU lanes for passport checks. If you're that worried, contact the Belgian embassy or the Home Office to check. A lot less hassle and expense than trying to get a rushed passport.

The government website seems up be saying that new terms are from 1 January 2021

It's fine.

Although if you apply online now a new one will be with you in the week.

To the pp who suggested an appointment at the passport office....why?

Because the withdrawal agreement has been signed, transitional arrangements are now in force and this means travel continues as previously until 31 December 2020.

[https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/10854046/brexit-passport-after-eu-renewal/ The Sun has the most detailed article on it I've seen] , bizarrely.

The idea that you would need 6 months left on your passport was speculation about what would happen if we left the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Back within a week if you renew online. But make sure you send your old passport back in the most secure way possible.

It’s fine

New rules won’t kick in till 2021

I was at a travel agent 2 weeks ago and they were recommending 6 months.

As we have "a deal" you don't need 6 months until at least the end of the year.

Thanks everyone, I checked the Belgium travel advice page and entry requirements were that no additional period of validity was required. Which is great except I’m an idiot and (luckily) checked the dates again and I’m actually travelling two weeks after it expires, not two weeks before so renewed online today 🙄

Not a passport question. I’m booked on domestic flight with easy jet from Gatwick on Thursday for a funeral, I was stressed and booked without checking ID requirements and only have a TFL photocard. Easy jet advice online is unclear and customer service told me a library card was good but it’s not got a photo.(she was Australian, maybe they have photos on them there) I’m so worried they turn me away leaving not enough time to rearrange, my 2 daughters are travelling with me. Anyone recently travelled with an alternative photo ID.?

Photo card driving license ? Worked for me in the EU going into Germany.

Easyjet identification docs page here - it says they accept:

A valid passport - an expired passport can be used up to a maximum of five years after expiry
Valid photographic EU or Swiss national identity card
Valid photographic driving licence, provisional or full
Valid armed forces identity card
Valid police warrant card/badge

Assuming you don't have any of these (which seems quite possible) I think I would cancel your flight and travel by train - the last thing you need is additional stress on your way to a funeral.

Thankyou, I’ve been advised by easy jet to call the British Embasy. I’ll let you know how I get on🌺