Passport expiry

LondonDiva

Shouldn't be a problem - I'm off to Japan next week & received my passport 2 1/2 weeks after sending it to them, the only extra was to send it via next day post.

shelly

fatboyonadiet wrote:

Don't think I'll risk it for the biscuit by waiting nearer 6 months, think I'll get an application on Monday and send it off on the Tuesday - fingers crossed!

You can now renew passports online. Hubby did it about 2 weeks ago. You fill in a form online and then they send you it already printed off. (hate filling it in myself paranoid i'll go out of the boxes...lol) You sign it and send any relevant docs you need to with it.....old passport.....new pic (if you want a new pic) and they send you a payment form which you can fill in with cc details or send a cheque. Hubby also paid a bit extra to have the old passport and then the new one sent back by courier to save it getting lost by RM. A renewal costs £51 :eek: I think from start to finish it took about 2 weeks.....maybe less.


HTH

Anne_Marie_2

fatboyonadiet wrote:

Italy first then Switzerland - so I can wait until I get back then?

As far as I am aware, your current passport should be fine within EU countries, there is a 3 month expiry stipulation, but since yours expires in October, you shouldn't have to renew it just yet.

Lob_Rockster

I would not renew it until it's almost expired. Certainly, unlike many countries, EU and Switzerland will just check if the passport is valid.

I actually let my passport expire last year and nobody had an issue.

Depending upon how you're getting to Italy/Switzerland denotes how you often you might have to produce the passport. If you're flying, check with the carrier. If you're driving, be prepared for the sad fact that possibly Dover is the only place you'll actually have to show the passport...!

fatboyonadiet

Going with Lufthansa to Italy and going with Easyjet to Switzerland.

pin

I think you should be OK for travelling to Italy and Switzerland. I think the only requirement is that the passport is currently valid, which it will be.

Re the online application thing. The only thing it does it allows the form to be filled online. However still means you have to wait for the PO to send it to you and then for you to fill out the rest and send it back to them.

shelly

pin wrote:

I think you should be OK for travelling to Italy and Switzerland. I think the only requirement is that the passport is currently valid, which it will be.

Re the online application thing. The only thing it does it allows the form to be filled online. However still means you have to wait for the PO to send it to you and then for you to fill out the rest and send it back to them.

It takes about 2 days to get the form after filling it in online. There is no "rest" to be filled out. Just needs signing. Personally hubby found it much easier as the form wasn't sitting about with him thinking......oh I'll do it tomorrow....:D Like I said before, took about 2 weeks from filling out form online to getting new passport.

alison74

I have just sent my passport off for renewal last week.

I did not pay for check and send as there are only 3 sections and the declaration to fill in for a renewal.

I got my photos done at the post office and then asked the guy if they were ok and he put the measure thingy on them and said they were fine (I assume this is normally part of the check and send service which you pay for)

Remember you do not need to get your photos endorsed for a new passport, just send 2 new ones as long as your identity 'hasn't significally changed'.

I sent mine recorded delivery to passport office and checked on line that it had arrived the next day. I also paid £3 to get it sent back this way.

It's up to you whether you want to pay the extra money for fast track, but at this time of year the man says that it will be well within the 3 weeks.