Passport Questions please

sylvia9121

Hello there

We are in the process of booking a holiday for August 08. I have just checked the passports and my son (who is 5) his passport runs out may 08. My question is - do I have to pay for the renewel? it was a 5 year passport

also my o/h - his passport runs out in january 09 will he still be ok to travel on this?

We are going to bulgaria

any advice greatly received

Thanks

Sylvia

mancitychick

Don't know about Hubby being okay, but yes you will have to pay for new kids passport.

sylvia9121

Thanks, thats terrible, so every 5 years you have to pay £46 is it?

ruby6kids

http://www.ips.gov.uk/passport/index.asp
that has all the information you should need.

you do need to pay to get your son a new passport and your husband is definately ok to travel if his passport is still valid on the return journey.

good luck!

sylvia9121

sorry maybe I am thick.. But my sons passport is only 5 years old. and I think that I paid for a 10 year one when i got it 5 years afo, I thought all I had to do was complete the application form and renew photo for free. It is now going to cost me another £46 on top of the money i paid 5 years ago?

sorry to be a dur brain I have checked the website and it doesnt really make much sense to me

MUM40

i would also get you oh passport done at the same time - he will get credit on his new passport for the months not used

ruby6kids

i recently renewed my childrens passports, their 5 year ones had almost expired, we had to pay for new ones as they do not extend childrens passports unless they were issues in 1998 or before.

the bit below is from the site, call them and check if you are still unsure.

We want to make it easy for you to contact us. With this in mind our Passport Adviceline, on 0870 521 0410, operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week

luci

ruby6kids wrote: »

your husband is definately ok to travel if his passport is still valid on the return journey.

good luck!

Not strictly true. Even if the country only requires the passport to be valid for the duration of the visit, most airlines and tour operators have their own rules and some require it to be valid for 6 months after date of return.

You could check with your operator, but personally I would renew it now as any unused portion up to 9 months will be added to the new passport.

dzug

sylvia9121 wrote: »

sorry maybe I am thick.. But my sons passport is only 5 years old. and I think that I paid for a 10 year one when i got it 5 years afo, I thought all I had to do was complete the application form and renew photo for free. It is now going to cost me another £46 on top of the money i paid 5 years ago?

sorry to be a dur brain I have checked the website and it doesnt really make much sense to me

You didn't pay for a 10 year one 5 years ago, unfortunately - you paid (a reduced rate) for a five year one, so you have to pay (again a reduced rate) for another 5 year one now.

You are confusing it with the previous system when yes, you paid the full fee and renewed free after 5 years. That went out nearly 10 years ago.

BARGAINADDICT_4

MUM40 wrote: »

i would also get you oh passport done at the same time - he will get credit on his new passport for the months not used

Yes, so would I you usually have to have 6months validity left on passport (we are only going to Spain this year & still have to). Just got away with kids passports this year(go in Feb,passports valid till sept) but, had to renew mine early to travel to Barbados in 2006.

Passports are bound to increase in price again before next year, so you will probably save yourself some money doing it before you travel & Holiday would be complete waste of money if you get to airport and they don't let him travel:eek:

My dilema is wether to get a 5 yr kids passport for my son when his runs out or wait till next Feb when he is 16 and get an adults pasport?

dzug

The official position is that Bulgaria requires British passports to be valid for the duration of the intended visit.

There are good reasons to renew in advance (avoid fees increase, be prepared for an unexpected trip to one of the very few countries that actually does require 6 months), but it is not a requirement. There are also bad reasons (fear of an idiot checkin clerk who doesn't know his job).