Child UK passport renewal

MrChips

My son's UK passport expires in April so we're applying for a new one for him.

The passport renewal website states:

"To renew your child’s passport you’ll need:

• your child’s old passport
• any valid passports from a different country your child has - send either a colour photocopy of each page (including blank ones) or the physical passport"

He is a dual national, but his other passport expired 3 years ago and we haven't bothered renewing it as the UK one is generally sufficient for him to get around.

I'm not sure what "valid" means for this purpose.  Ideally I'd rather not have to submit his expired foreign passport for the application if it isn't necessary (just in case it goes missing).  I know we can also submit photocopies but that will also mean additional admin and postage costs.

Does anyone know if we'd be expected to submit it in these circumstances?

Emmia

MrChips said:

My son's UK passport expires in April so we're applying for a new one for him.

The passport renewal website states:

"To renew your child’s passport you’ll need:

• your child’s old passport
• any valid passports from a different country your child has - send either a colour photocopy of each page (including blank ones) or the physical passport"

He is a dual national, but his other passport expired 3 years ago and we haven't bothered renewing it as the UK one is generally sufficient for him to get around.

I'm not sure what "valid" means for this purpose.  Ideally I'd rather not have to submit his expired foreign passport for the application if it isn't necessary (just in case it goes missing).  I know we can also submit photocopies but that will also mean additional admin and postage costs.

Does anyone know if we'd be expected to submit it in these circumstances?

Which country is his other nationality? 

If it's an EU country he should be entering the EU on that passport, rather than his UK passport - really you should be renewing both passports, and not letting them expire.

flaneurs_lobster

Emmia said:

If it's an EU country he should be entering the EU on that passport, rather than his UK passport - really you should be renewing both passports, and not letting them expire.

Is this generally true? Or just children? 

I've UK and EU, don't really bother about which I'm travelling on when visiting EU.

MrChips said:

I'm not sure what "valid" means for this purpose.  Ideally I'd rather not have to submit his expired foreign passport for the application if it isn't necessary (just in case it goes missing).  I know we can also submit photocopies but that will also mean additional admin and postage costs.

Does anyone know if we'd be expected to submit it in these circumstances?

I don't have knowledge of what HMPO consider "valid", personally I'd be submitting the second passport or copies rather than risk having the application rejected and a second fee being payable for a resubmission. Send the old passports by RM Special Delivery Guaranteed or similar.

user1977

I would interpret "valid" as meaning "in date" - not sure what purpose it serves otherwise! "Please don't send us fake passports"?

Emmia

flaneurs_lobster said:

Emmia said:

If it's an EU country he should be entering the EU on that passport, rather than his UK passport - really you should be renewing both passports, and not letting them expire.

Is this generally true? Or just children? 

I've UK and EU, don't really bother about which I'm travelling on when visiting EU.

MrChips said:

I'm not sure what "valid" means for this purpose.  Ideally I'd rather not have to submit his expired foreign passport for the application if it isn't necessary (just in case it goes missing).  I know we can also submit photocopies but that will also mean additional admin and postage costs.

Does anyone know if we'd be expected to submit it in these circumstances?

I don't have knowledge of what HMPO consider "valid", personally I'd be submitting the second passport or copies rather than risk having the application rejected and a second fee being payable for a resubmission. Send the old passports by RM Special Delivery Guaranteed or similar.

With the implementation of EES in particular you should need be entering the EU on an EU passport, not a UK passport. Entering on an EU passport means you can use the e-gates (no queuing) and you're not liable to the 90/180 restrictions.

TELLIT01

You can do a CHAT with them or phone.  https://www.gov.uk/passport-advice-line

flaneurs_lobster

Emmia said:

With the implementation of EES in particular you should need be entering the EU on an EU passport, not a UK passport. Entering on an EU passport means you can use the e-gates (no queuing) and you're not liable to the 90/180 restrictions.

Travelling alone - excellent advice.

Travelling with UK passport only partner - not even worthy of consideration if you value your relationship.

Emmia

flaneurs_lobster said:

Emmia said:

With the implementation of EES in particular you should need be entering the EU on an EU passport, not a UK passport. Entering on an EU passport means you can use the e-gates (no queuing) and you're not liable to the 90/180 restrictions.

Travelling alone - excellent advice.

Travelling with UK passport only partner - not even worthy of consideration if you value your relationship.

My EU/UK passport husband goes through separately and waits for the luggage - him being in the queue just makes it longer for those (like me) who have no option.

I don't want him in the queue, I'd rather those who can use the e-gates do so.

sheramber

Emmia said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Emmia said:

If it's an EU country he should be entering the EU on that passport, rather than his UK passport - really you should be renewing both passports, and not letting them expire.

Is this generally true? Or just children? 

I've UK and EU, don't really bother about which I'm travelling on when visiting EU.

MrChips said:

I'm not sure what "valid" means for this purpose.  Ideally I'd rather not have to submit his expired foreign passport for the application if it isn't necessary (just in case it goes missing).  I know we can also submit photocopies but that will also mean additional admin and postage costs.

Does anyone know if we'd be expected to submit it in these circumstances?

I don't have knowledge of what HMPO consider "valid", personally I'd be submitting the second passport or copies rather than risk having the application rejected and a second fee being payable for a resubmission. Send the old passports by RM Special Delivery Guaranteed or similar.

With the implementation of EES in particular you should need be entering the EU on an EU passport, not a UK passport. Entering on an EU passport means you can use the e-gates (no queuing) and you're not liable to the 90/180 restrictions.

My son only has a UK passport but is not restricted to 90/180 days where he lives in the EU as he has residency  in that country. 

Emmia

sheramber said:

Emmia said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Emmia said:

If it's an EU country he should be entering the EU on that passport, rather than his UK passport - really you should be renewing both passports, and not letting them expire.

Is this generally true? Or just children? 

I've UK and EU, don't really bother about which I'm travelling on when visiting EU.

MrChips said:

I'm not sure what "valid" means for this purpose.  Ideally I'd rather not have to submit his expired foreign passport for the application if it isn't necessary (just in case it goes missing).  I know we can also submit photocopies but that will also mean additional admin and postage costs.

Does anyone know if we'd be expected to submit it in these circumstances?

I don't have knowledge of what HMPO consider "valid", personally I'd be submitting the second passport or copies rather than risk having the application rejected and a second fee being payable for a resubmission. Send the old passports by RM Special Delivery Guaranteed or similar.

With the implementation of EES in particular you should need be entering the EU on an EU passport, not a UK passport. Entering on an EU passport means you can use the e-gates (no queuing) and you're not liable to the 90/180 restrictions.

My son only has a UK passport but is not restricted to 90/180 days where he lives in the EU as he has residency  in that country. 

He avoids the restriction by having applied and obtained residency... He'll show proof of this when he goes through passport control using his UK passport.

If you live in the UK and only have a UK passport you're not "resident" in the EU - so the 90/180 restrictions apply.

MrChips

Thanks for all the replies. 

The other passport is Russian (not in EU as things stand), typically we only use it when we travel there to avoid having to apply for a visa, but we're unlikely to visit for a while due to the geopolitical situation.

Having got to the end of the UK application process, it seems an expired passport does count as valid! It's only cancelled passports that are out of scope.