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Original poster

Urgent advice needed!! Passport expiration time

196 replies

NSWK · 08/02/2024 23:15

We are travelling last minute (hopefully) to Spain tomorrow for half term, and have just realised our child's passport has two months and three weeks until it expires. It looks like we need to have a full three months on a child's passport to travel. We have only just realised this and are travelling tomorrow afternoon so it is too late to renew the passport.

Does anyone have any experience? We are hoping to fly with BA from Gatwick to Malaga, both parent's passports have, in excess of, 6 months. Is there a chance they will let us fly (we are only going for five days) or are we mad to even go to the airport?

Thank you in advance, all advice gratefully received.

OP posts:
FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant · 08/02/2024 23:17

I have a feeling I've read on here that the airline gets fined if they let these things slide, so I don't think I'd risk it because they're meant to be very hot on disallowing it. Although I'm sure others will say to head to the airport and try anyway.

Clearinguptheclutter · 08/02/2024 23:19

Oh dear. I mean at this late stage I’d be giving it a bash but unfortunately it looks likely that he won’t be allowed to fly.
You can only get one week fast track for children, no quicker
Sorry

Overthebow · 08/02/2024 23:20

It’s not 3 months until expired when you go, it’s 3 months on return. I doubt they’ll let you fly, but it’s the entrance requirements for Spain so even if you manage to get on the plane you probably won’t be let into the county when you get to security checks.

FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant · 08/02/2024 23:21

Overthebow · 08/02/2024 23:20

It’s not 3 months until expired when you go, it’s 3 months on return. I doubt they’ll let you fly, but it’s the entrance requirements for Spain so even if you manage to get on the plane you probably won’t be let into the county when you get to security checks.

Yes this is also a risk. Even if you managed to board you can be turned away at immigration in Spain and sent home.

Overthebow · 08/02/2024 23:22

Clearinguptheclutter · 08/02/2024 23:19

Oh dear. I mean at this late stage I’d be giving it a bash but unfortunately it looks likely that he won’t be allowed to fly.
You can only get one week fast track for children, no quicker
Sorry

I wouldn’t try it, even if op manages to get through UK checkin, they will probably get turned away from Spanish security and not let in as it’s entrance requirement into Spain. I wouldn’t risk being stranded in the airport especially with kids

MariaLuna · 08/02/2024 23:24

Not in UK so don't know.

Just go and try, nothing ventured nothing gained and all that. Hopefully too busy to notice.

Brexshit, the gift that keeps on giving. (taking away).

I have an ID card, like a credit card, let's me travel all over EU, Morocco, Turkey, Scandanavia etc. I now need my passport to hop over to UK! (where I grew up).
It's shit, I know. I feel for you.

FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant · 08/02/2024 23:29

MariaLuna · 08/02/2024 23:24

Not in UK so don't know.

Just go and try, nothing ventured nothing gained and all that. Hopefully too busy to notice.

Brexshit, the gift that keeps on giving. (taking away).

I have an ID card, like a credit card, let's me travel all over EU, Morocco, Turkey, Scandanavia etc. I now need my passport to hop over to UK! (where I grew up).
It's shit, I know. I feel for you.

It's not that they'd be too busy to notice, I believe the system actively flags it to them.

Original poster
NSWK · 08/02/2024 23:33

Thank you everyone -that was fast, but disappointingly consistent 😭

I think we will go to the airport anyway, since everything is booked and paid for. Luckily our child is a teenager, so hopefully old enough to cope (and possibly learn from our stupid mistake!) I was just hoping somebody migh have had some luck travelling in a similar situation. It would be nice to have a glimmer of hope 🤞☀️

OP posts:
Original poster
NSWK · 08/02/2024 23:40

i Have heard this too 😭😭😭 do you think we should be encouraged by the fact they let us check in online?! 🤞🤞

OP posts:
TreesAtSea · 08/02/2024 23:41

There was a recent thread with a very similar situation, where the OP reported back later that they'd got through okay. They were going to Italy, though I think they were driving rather than flying.

Good luck if you do try.

FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant · 08/02/2024 23:41

NSWK · 08/02/2024 23:40

i Have heard this too 😭😭😭 do you think we should be encouraged by the fact they let us check in online?! 🤞🤞

Maybe I'm pessimistic but I expect it to be more of an issue when you get into Spain, being able to pass through immigration. But stranger things have happened.

Helplessandheartbroke · 08/02/2024 23:42

Can you get an emergency appointment first thing to renew? I'm up north so my nearest is Liverpool not sure where yours would be...

Original poster
NSWK · 08/02/2024 23:45

Child’s passports have a week turn around even for fast track (I think).

OP posts:
TedMullins · 08/02/2024 23:46

NSWK · 08/02/2024 23:40

i Have heard this too 😭😭😭 do you think we should be encouraged by the fact they let us check in online?! 🤞🤞

sadly not. My boyfriend and I checked in online with no issues, but when we got to the airport he was barred from flying because his passport didn’t have a full 6 months (not Spain). I really doubt your son will be allowed to fly.

shreknjumps · 08/02/2024 23:47

What a shame. The turnaround is so quick too at the moment. Are you just going to try and go unnoticed? 😅

ImANameChanger01 · 08/02/2024 23:47

If you risk it (I would as all
paid for) can you update us and let us know if they let you through

samarrange · 08/02/2024 23:50

FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant · 08/02/2024 23:41

Maybe I'm pessimistic but I expect it to be more of an issue when you get into Spain, being able to pass through immigration. But stranger things have happened.

Show quote history

I think the OP might just about get away with it when landing in Spain. Putting people on a return flight for a minor document error is not something that the immigration officials want to do as it involves them filling in a lot of forms (Ryanair or whoever aren't going to fly you all back to the UK for free), and if the "offender" is a child it makes it even harder for them to do it. I think it's more likely that the issue will be picked up at check-in, since sending you back to your car or the train at Gatwick has zero emotional or procedural cost for the check-in person.

One thing I would say to the OP is, if you are turned away, please make sure that the child has no reason to think it's their fault — and children can tell themselves a lot of stories about how stuff is their fault. You haven't said how old they are, but if they are not old enough to read, the story should probably be that it was Mum or Dad's passport that had a problem.

Clearinguptheclutter · 08/02/2024 23:52

With a teenage child who understands it could go pear, shaped I’d go. But prepare for the worst. It might just be a case of a big Red ❌ when they scan your passport.

do report back.

Not quite the same but I lost my passport the day before a holiday once. 100% gutting. It takes a minimum of a week for a lost replacement, similarly a child renewal. Adult renewals can be 48 hours.

ilovesooty · 08/02/2024 23:52

samarrange · 08/02/2024 23:50

I think the OP might just about get away with it when landing in Spain. Putting people on a return flight for a minor document error is not something that the immigration officials want to do as it involves them filling in a lot of forms (Ryanair or whoever aren't going to fly you all back to the UK for free), and if the "offender" is a child it makes it even harder for them to do it. I think it's more likely that the issue will be picked up at check-in, since sending you back to your car or the train at Gatwick has zero emotional or procedural cost for the check-in person.

One thing I would say to the OP is, if you are turned away, please make sure that the child has no reason to think it's their fault — and children can tell themselves a lot of stories about how stuff is their fault. You haven't said how old they are, but if they are not old enough to read, the story should probably be that it was Mum or Dad's passport that had a problem.

Edited
Show quote history

The child's a teenager - quite old enough to understand the situation.

Original poster
NSWK · 08/02/2024 23:53

My husband is keen to try, so I guess we will be going! Will let you all know. Wish us luck🍀🤞
I was really hoping someone would reply & say it was fine for them, I guess most people are more organised than us, such a silly mistake 😣

OP posts:
Helplessandheartbroke · 08/02/2024 23:53

Good luck!

porridgecake · 08/02/2024 23:53

I think you have to have some sort of visa for Europe now too? It costs about £7. Not called a visa but I can't remember the name.
I had to renew my passport 8 months early due to planning to stop in France on a return long haul flight in March. Then we decided to fly straight back to uk, so I didn't investigate the visa any further.
Brexit is such a pain.

Helplessandheartbroke · 08/02/2024 23:54

NSWK · 08/02/2024 23:45

Child’s passports have a week turn around even for fast track (I think).

You can go for an interview and get one face to face

MariaLuna · 08/02/2024 23:57

I think you have to have some sort of visa for Europe now too?

How utterly ridiculous. UK is part of Europe.

All thanks to that fuckwit Boris Johnson.

ilovesooty · 08/02/2024 23:57

You don't need an ETIAS to enter Spain from the EU. In due course travellers will need an ETIAS waiver.