Child passport question

Vader123

Hi all

We travel to Greece (Rhodes) on holiday from June 3rd until June 13th 2010.

One of my childrens passports runs out on July 30th 2010.

Will I have any problems or should I renew it?

Vader

peachyprice

That should be fine, it's still valid for 6 weeks after your return date so you should have no probs at all.

You're luckier than me, both my son's passports run out the day we go!

bubblegumcola

I'm pretty sure you'll have to renew it before you go. Don't you normally need to have 6 months validity left on a passport when you travel abroad? I know its expensive for a passport but think of the trauma when you get to the airport and they tell you your child can't travel with you. I'd check the passport service website, they'll have the most up to date info, or failing that check with your travel agent. Have a great holiday when it comes.

magpiecottage

I think you can still renew within 9 months of the old one expiring and have the new one run for 10 years (5 in the case of a child) plus the number of complete months from the date of issue of the new one to the date of expiry of the old one - the new one would expire in July 2015 or July 2020 if over 16 now.

I suppose the only issue would be if they were coming up to 16, in which case you might want to hang on until they qualified for a 10 year passport which works out cheaper in the long run.

benjus

bubblegumcola wrote: »

I'm pretty sure you'll have to renew it before you go. Don't you normally need to have 6 months validity left on a passport when you travel abroad? I know its expensive for a passport but think of the trauma when you get to the airport and they tell you your child can't travel with you. I'd check the passport service website, they'll have the most up to date info, or failing that check with your travel agent. Have a great holiday when it comes.

Within the European Economic Area there is no 6 month requirement - you just need a valid passport.

The Foreign Office travel advice pages are great for this type of question: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/europe/greece

bubblegumcola

Looks like you will still need to renew it as it will be out of date on your return which could cause you problems re-entering the country.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/Applyingforaneworrenewedchildpassport/DG_174105

peachyprice

Vader123 wrote: »

Hi all

We travel to Greece (Rhodes) on holiday from June 3rd until June 13th 2010.

One of my childrens passports runs out on July 30th 2010.

Will I have any problems or should I renew it?

Vader

bubblegumcola wrote: »

Looks like you will still need to renew it as it will be out of date on your return which could cause you problems re-entering the country.

No it won't it will still have 6 weeks on it.

OP, to travel in the EU you do not need to renew the passport.

Vader123

Thanks all, some conflicting advice here!

The child in question will be 14.

Looking at the passport pages, its £49 for a renewal, which I might just do to avoid aggro. The shame is, we have no foreign trips arranged (after this one) for the next few years!

Vader

eslick

isnt the £49 a total rip off you only get 5 years so costs £98 for the same number of years as an adult one and most think that ones a rip off as well

peachyprice

Vader123 wrote: »

Looking at the passport pages, its £49 for a renewal, which I might just do to avoid aggro. The shame is, we have no foreign trips arranged (after this one) for the next few years!

Vader

Your choice entirely, but you don't HAVE to.
The passport only has to be valid for the length of your stay, which it is.

spiro

Vader123 wrote: »

Thanks all, some conflicting advice here!

The child in question will be 14.

Looking at the passport pages, its £49 for a renewal, which I might just do to avoid aggro. The shame is, we have no foreign trips arranged (after this one) for the next few years!

Vader

I can see some advantages of renewing now: You can renew for £49 for the next five years but if you wait a year or 2 you will have to pay for a full adult passport which no doubt will have gone up in cost, they may have rolled out interviews for renewals which will increase the cost to you and if any short notice trips come along at least they will have a passport.