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Original poster

HELP! Child passport expired and we travel on Saturday!

89 replies

Endoftethermum1 · 30/07/2023 21:03

I feel so stupid but we have realised our 10 year old sons passport expired 11 days ago and we fly to Italy Saturday from Manchester.
we’ve looked at the gov.uk website and it seems to say child passports can’t be renewed in the office and you have to wait up to a week after an appointment to receive it urgently.
I am in Scotland on holiday with the kids but without the passport and could book an appointment only available in Glasgow for Tuesday but would have to chance it being delivered by Friday.
has anyone been in this situation before? What can I do? I feel sick thinking about it (& very silly)
ANY ADVICE WELCOME !

OP posts:
PrimalLass · 30/07/2023 21:52

Also, refresh constantly but at some point you can't cancel the appt you already have.

ididntthough · 30/07/2023 21:52

Friend definitely had an appointment with her teen son recently. Not sure if that was the 1 week but it came very quickly after. You’d be bonkers to post it off on the regular service as suggested above. Stalk for an appointment and beg and plead when you’re there. It’s worth a try if you can’t move or cancel. Good luck

Magicshoppingtrolley · 30/07/2023 21:53

I did mine online a couple of weeks ago for DD as I realised she didn’t have 6 months left on it. It came back 5 days after I’d posted her old one off so you could be lucky.

dementedpixie · 30/07/2023 21:56

Have you got a countersignatory lined up as you Will need one for that age of child

MrsPositivity1 · 30/07/2023 21:56

Make sure you bring your holiday booking confirmation and boarding passes if you have them when you go to the appointment.

This happened us a few years ago and we got the new one by the skin of our teeth.

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

Valhalla17 · 30/07/2023 21:58

dementedpixie · 30/07/2023 21:56

Have you got a countersignatory lined up as you Will need one for that age of child

You don't need one for a renewal.

Valhalla17 · 30/07/2023 21:59

Sorry the age means you might, I didn't for my 12yr old recently though.

Katrinawaves · 30/07/2023 21:59

If you do end up flying out later, make sure you speak to airline and ensure that your flights home will not be affected. Otherwise if you don’t fly out on your original flight, the rerun will automatically be cancelled.

dementedpixie · 30/07/2023 22:00

Valhalla17 · 30/07/2023 21:59

Sorry the age means you might, I didn't for my 12yr old recently though.

Under 12s need a countersignature

WallaceinAnderland · 30/07/2023 22:01

No travel insurance will cover an expired passport.

That's why I said cancellation insurance. I always take it in case I need to cancel for my own stupid whatever reason.

Pearl97 · 30/07/2023 22:03

Everything crossed for you. Please keep us updated as we’re all routing for you xxx

LIZS · 30/07/2023 22:03

But whether cancellation is covered depends on the cause. It usually has to be something beyond your control, like acute illness, rather than an admin oversight or disinclination to travel.

Pushpull · 30/07/2023 22:14

I'm rooting for you! Everything crossed you get it in time.

KissyMissy · 30/07/2023 22:15

I have my fingers crossed for you

Dakers · 30/07/2023 22:36

I had a friend turn up before opening without an appointment at the Glasgow office in April and be seen when they opened after pleading her case (this was an adults passport mind you) but might be worth a shot tomorrow morning if you aren't too far away.

Readyplayerthr33 · 30/07/2023 22:40

None of the suggestions to get an appointment or turn up tomorrow are any use because the OP does not have the passport with her. She needs to old passport at the appointment.

Molehillminnie · 30/07/2023 22:51

I think you can do it, OP. We lived on the other side of the world once. Sent a UK passport back to be renewed and had it back with us 6 days later. It had to have taken 2 days to travel each direction so they must have processed it pretty much immediately! Stay positive, it’ll be fine.

TaylorSwiftFan · 30/07/2023 22:54

Good luck and sorry about losing your sister Flowers

toddlermum27 · 30/07/2023 22:55

My husband did the one week service and it came 2 days later ... don't know if that's helpful or not!

Mayhem3 · 30/07/2023 22:59

Please don’t tell your kids the reason why you have to cancel as they’ll feel so guilty.

If you can’t get an appointment tomorrow then I’d try and postpone the holiday and say that the holiday company did it.

If you can get an appointment on Monday or Tuesday then I’d risk it and just book extra flights a couple days after if you need to.

Fingers crossed that you get an appointment tomorrow and it arrives a couple of days later.

Soscrewed · 30/07/2023 23:05

DH did his passport renewal online last week- he didn't pay for the fast service or anything (no need). We expected it to take 10 weeks. He did the online form on Friday and posted his old passport in on Saturday. On Wednesday they emailed to day it was being printed and on Thursday it dropped through the door. So if all else fails apply now online and you may be lucky.

SavvyMaria · 30/07/2023 23:07

Good luck, I hope the passport gods are on your side.

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 30/07/2023 23:53

WallaceinAnderland · 30/07/2023 22:01

No travel insurance will cover an expired passport.

That's why I said cancellation insurance. I always take it in case I need to cancel for my own stupid whatever reason.

But it won’t cover you for your own stupid reason. It covers you for illness of you, close family and/or travel companions or bereavement of those categories. They don’t cover you for your own mistakes.

meatbaseddessert · 31/07/2023 08:51

WallaceinAnderland · 30/07/2023 22:01

No travel insurance will cover an expired passport.

That's why I said cancellation insurance. I always take it in case I need to cancel for my own stupid whatever reason.

You misunderstand insurance. No insurance will cover you cancelling a holiday because you made a mistake, you forgot to renew a passport, 'just cos' or your 'own stupid mistake'. Insurance only covers unforeseen and out of your control events.
Again, insurance; 'travel', 'cancellation' or however it's named will not cover failure to renew a passport.

Original poster
Endoftethermum1 · 02/08/2023 16:25

Well, the holiday gods are on our side! We made it to an appointment in Glasgow yesterday and just received a text today to say it is being delivered tomorrow! Wow- fantastic turnaround speed. I might hug the postie!
Thanks for the advice- certainly won’t be making the same mistake again!
Roll on ☀️☀️☀️☀️

OP posts: