Surprise holiday but passport expired

[Herewegoagain22]

I want to book my my mum a surprise getaway for January next year, abroad. But her passport has expired and I’m not sure how I can keep this a secret until Christmas now, let alone book anything when I know she doesn’t have a valid passport. How can I get her renew? She says she will never go away again so doesn’t need it. But I really need her to do it!!

I've never needed to use a passport or driving licence to vote! You'd be surprised at what an over 60 can use as voter ID

Delay the surprise getaway til Feb?

What did he think he was doing in an airport with a bag packed if not going on holiday?

Maybe its me but I would absolutely hate being ‘surprised’ like that, I want to look forward to a trip, research what I want to see & do, know what to pack!

Does the trip have to be in January? Go later in the year so she has time to renew her passport after Christmas.

So is this how criminals arrange fake passports? Something doesn't sound safe

Not with an online renewal.

I think you’re too hung up on the surprise part tbh. Just tell her you would like to think about booking a trip together in the new year and could she renew her passport. Once you know she sent it off you can still present her with the actual holiday at Christmas. The trip is the gift the surprise part doesn’t really matter.

I agree that surprise trips are always a bit of a gamble anyway.

It's not much of a gift if the person has to pay almost £90 at Christmas to renew their own passport, especially if they weren't planning on having to spend that money.

Then the op can just apply for her mother her mother doesn't need to be involved

She’ll need a recent photo.

She will need an up to date photo for the application. It can be taken on your phone though so you don't need a photo booth or anything more complicated

I've googled and it says you need explicit consent of the person to renew for them, granted that was the AI summary I can't be arsed to go onto the website. It soon won't be possible when you have to use One Login to verify your identity like you do with HMRC, but I'm pretty sure it's not legal now even if it's technically possible.

I agree with those saying pick a later date for the trip if you can. If you can’t, tell your mum now that you’re booking a surprise trip for her Christmas present, but don’t tell her the details - that can be the surprise.

OP, are you absolutely sure your mum actually wants to go abroad on a holiday?
Because not having a valid passport isn't screaming "she'd love to go abroad "
While many older people love to travel extensively, many others would rather avoid the hassle of the airport and holiday within the UK.

I would talk to her being honest in a very general nonspecific way. eg "Mum I'd really like you to have an up to date valid passport because I'd like the option to be able to take you away on holiday one day, perhaps if I get a bonus through at work or something. It's just that since covid the delays in getting a passport renewed can be months so it's silly to wait till you're actually planning a holiday to think about renewing your passport - you need to have the passport in your hands before you even think of booking, so please can you renew it so that you've got the option?"

I'd never be able to book a surprise holiday for my mum. Her diary is full of so many volunteering and church activities you need to book her months in advance.

Doesn’t it cost about about £90 to renew a passport, is she going to be happy to fork that out if she doesn’t know why?

If you are set on the surprise, could you tell her you are taking her away but not tell her where?
I don't mind surprises about small things but I would totally want to know where I was going on holiday!
Also travel insurance, are you confident getting travel insurance on her behalf without discussing it with her.

i renewed my passport online, no signature required no one had to witness anything as I’m still recognisable 🤷🏻‍♀️

He was surprised when they arrived at the airport so presumably he was aware before they stepped inside. What a daft comment.

Shhh don’t let reality get in the way of the misery guts’ on here.

It’s an online renewal so they already have your photo on file and compare if it’s the same person or can use your driving license photo. It’s perfectly safe

Just give her the holiday as a Christmas gift but book the event for the end of January so there is time to sort her passport.

@PuddlesPityParty how did you sort travel insurance?

Tell her you’re taking her away but keep the destination secret.

If you really want to keep it a secret push the passport renewal as needed for ID.

I am an elderly aunt's power of attorney. I renewed her passport as I had to prove her ID loads of times when I was sorting out bank accounts, closing shares, dealing with her late husbands estate.

It was the best £90 of her money I've spent.

You also need photo ID to vote:
I've just checked the list this is
Passport
Driving Licence
Blue Badge
Concessionary bus pass

and not much else....