When to renew my passport?

od244051

It expires March 2021 and past few years, including this year, I will be traveling in Europe in September.

I know I could use my existing passport on this holiday, however, someone I know, was treated like a criminal when she returned from a trip from the EU - she visited three countries there. On the date of return back to the UK, she had 6 months and 4 days left.

I do not want to risk being treated like the person above

Grumpelstiltskin

About 3 weeks before it expires will be about right.

eDicky

od244051 wrote: »

someone I know, was treated like a criminal when she returned from a trip from the EU

Treated by whom, in what way, and with what connection to passport validity?

heatherw_01

Bit confused about the bit about being treated like a criminal?
Where did they go and who treated them like one?

TELLIT01

Any problems for a UK passport holder returning to the UK would have nothing to do with how long was remaining on the passport. There would have been other reasons for additional questions and checks, which is possible what is being referred to.

peachyprice

Probably best to not leave the country at all if other people's anecdotes are distressing you so.

DCFC79

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Any problems for a UK passport holder returning to the UK would have nothing to do with how long was remaining on the passport. There would have been other reasons for additional questions and checks, which is possible what is being referred to.

Agreed.

OP are you able to provide more information on this ?

Sea_Shell

Has anyone tried the "take your own photo" element of the on-line passport renewal?

How does this work in practice?. Do you have to take the photo, during the application, or can you have already taken one and uploaded to your computer first, in preparedness to upload it to your application. ?

I'm sure it'll take a few shots to get an "acceptable" one!!!

Any feedback on the process would be appreciated.

Neil49

Referring to the original post, try the .GOV passport validity checking facility.

https://www.gov.uk/check-a-passport-for-travel-to-europe

Westin

od244051 wrote: »

It expires March 2021 and past few years, including this year, I will be traveling in Europe in September.

I know I could use my existing passport on this holiday, however, someone I know, was treated like a criminal when she returned from a trip from the EU - she visited three countries there. On the date of return back to the UK, she had 6 months and 4 days left.

I do not want to risk being treated like the person above

Nothing like a nice bit of dramatic storytelling.

Grumpelstiltskin

Sea_Shell wrote: »

Has anyone tried the "take your own photo" element of the on-line passport renewal?

How does this work in practice?. Do you have to take the photo, during the application, or can you have already taken one and uploaded to your computer first, in preparedness to upload it to your application. ?

I'm sure it'll take a few shots to get an "acceptable" one!!!

Any feedback on the process would be appreciated.

My son recently renewed his passport. He used a Photo Booth in a supermarket. It told him his photo was OK to use as a passport photo.

It uploads automatically to the Gov website but the website told him the photo wouldn't be accepted, ( too small contrast between his head and the background)

It gave him the opportunity to add a comment so he put down that the photo booth said it was OK and he got his new passport with 10 days,

So don't panic unessercerily.