Passport expiry dates and renewing

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Current passport expires April 20 and just wondering would anyone try and renew early in case things really go chaotic after Brexit ?
Has anyone else renewed early or a, I overthinking a bit too much?

I’d probably renew early in that case beings as it’s not a great deal of time difference. Lots of people renew 3-6 months before expiry anyway due to the regulations regarding the amount of time required on your passport before you are allowed to enter certain countries.

But you now do not get unexpired time added on so you would lose over a year's worth.

I always renew early - things have gone wrong in terms of backlog at the Passport Office in previous years that have nothing to do with Brexit. However, you used to get unexpired months credited on, up to 9 months, so that you didn't lose out by early application and this was sneakily ended ie not well publicised, in September 2018.

We always renew early, as you need 6 months validity to get into countries we frequently visit.
Gutted about the carrying over - for various reasons we have just renewed a childs passport. Due to expire Oct. Losing 15% of its life.....

Sorry, I read that as April this year, not 2020! In that case I wouldn’t renew early.

I don’t mind losing 3-6 months on a passport, it only works out at losing a few £s, but I would hope that by the end of 2019/early 2020 things would be mostly sorted for things like passports etc (and if they aren’t it means things are really bad and a few weeks holiday in the sun will be the last thing on my mind ).

Just checked ours - the earliest is 2021. Hopefully we'll all have our Irish ones by then anyway.

I wouldn't be needing it for holidays it's just if the worst came to the worst then I could stay with family abroad.
I wonder if the passport agency would have it back by March even if I did it now as I think others could have renewed causing a backlog

even without Brexit it's coming to Easter holidays and May Bank holidays too so people go away more and there might be longer delays. as it's already January I'd get it done now. one less thing to keep reminding yourself about too!

Hang on, April 2020?? Or April 2019 for expiry?

2019, and yes, I'd renew.
2020, and I'd hold off til October, and renew then.

I renewed 2 of ours last year - doing it completely online. They went to Belfast, iirc. It was a really fast turn round with good online tracking.

Mine expires this September so I’m just waiting to get back from a trip next week to renew it. I’m annoyed about losing the remainder of the time but it’s a small loss in the scheme of things as I also usually need 6 months’ validity from the return date so would need a new one by March anyway.

The loss of the unexpired time is something I was completely unaware of.

I'm doing 2 renewals and 2 new (child) passports.

Are there going to be delays????

My sister renewed hers last week. It only took a her few days to get her new passport. I don’t think there is a backlog at the moment.

I would have thought there were would be a backlog of people getting a passport to get out of here before March!

For renewals do you need a countersignature?

I renewed mine last month. It was due to expire in Feb. Took less than a week to come back.

They don’t add on the unexpired time anymore, so unless you’re planning a trip away, why not go it now? No one knows what impact Brexit will have really. Do it now, get it back and have hace a trip away before Brexit.

For renewals of children's passports I think you need a countersignature. For adults, only if you have significantly changed appearance. DH has still not forgiven the lady in the Post Office who was checking our application and told DH he had aged so he needed a countersignature!

I've just got my DS's first child passport and it took 4 working days to come! They appear to be very organised or very quiet at the moment.

As well as the unexpired time issue and needing 6 months validity, your passport can't be more than 10 years old anymore. Mine was renewed in March to expire in December. So if there's a no deal Brexit I need a new one right away.