Passport query

neviboss1

My passport is due to run out in May,am I right in thinking if I want to travel in Europe prior to this I will need 6 months minimum time left on it

I cannot decide whether to renew it or not as the prospect of travelling alone overwhelms me.

pin

No don't think this is the case, its just something that is recommended.

However if you renew before expiry, they will carry over up to 9 months of existing passport, so if you have the time now, you might as well get it out of the way and done with.

i_love_it

No you dont have to have 6 month or more validity to travel in europe, but you do for other destinations, the US being one, thing is you will have to renew in the near future any way and as PIN has said, you wont loose any time for renewing now, they'll add the months you have left. New passport applicants now have to undergo an interview and renewals may have to in the near future.

All new passports contain a chip holding personal data and in future the data will increase to contain fingerprints and iris scans, you may or maynot agree with this, personally, I would renew now, to avoid such surveillance and the price hike has already took place.

Waiting times for postal applications will be shorter now than in the summer months.....

BernadetteN

The previous posters are all correct. If you travel when your passport has expired however, you may encounter difficulties - the French PAF (Police aux Frontieres) can and do refuse entry in to France when UK passports have expired.

Those renewing passports do not yet have to undergo interviews for renewal unless fraud is suspected. First passport issues will soon undergo interview, just as soon as the offices are staffed and IT equipment is functional.

UK Immigration is about to start rolling out their new IT technology for reading the iris scans and fingerprints encoded in to new passports.

moonrakerz

i_love_it wrote:

No you dont have to have 6 month or more validity to travel in europe, but you do for other destinations, the US being one,

You don't need 6 months on your passport to visit the US, for some strange reason this is something the airlines/travel agents tell you. It may be because if you enter the US on the Visa Waiver Scheme, you can stay for a max of 6 months. If your passport is valid for less than that, you just can't stay as long !

blue_monkey_2

Also because should you fall ill on your visit and need to stay then you have to be sure you have enough time left on your passport. Alway advise to be safe rather than sorry I would say. If you have 9 months left this is bought forward. They did on mine which now runs out in Aug 2017 - looks weird when I see the date!!

jillie1974

if travelling within the EU, as long as your passport is valid on your return date that is ok.

LondonDiva

You may as well renew it now, renewed mine about beginning of Feb last year and it took 2 weeks to return, with an additional 8 months added on.:)