The only requirement for EU citizens is that their passport is valid for the length of their stay. BUT some Travel Companies or Airlines request that there is 3 or 6 months validity left on the passport and may refuse boarding if this is not adhered to. You should check with the Airline or Travel Company that you are travelling with.

Just to let HT members know that I sent off for renewal passports for my 3 children and they were returned exactly one week later!!
Well done Liverpool passport office.

They now contain an electronic ( biometric) chip and an antenna!! The chip stores a copy of your photo and personal details which are printed on the personal details page. They say that there is no extra personal info on this chip and that you can view the details held on the chip by using the self service ePassport reader kiosk at any of the regional Passport offices.

Something to do on a rainy day?

do you need to change your address with passport office when you move house? i have moved twice since renewing my passport in 1999, obviously i informed other relevant places banks,credit card companies etc .but i havent ever informed passport office
now that alot of the airlines etc are asking for passenger info up front i wonder wether this could pose a problem. thanks in advance for any replies

Hi emso ...

do you need to change your address with passport office when you move house? i have moved twice since renewing my passport in 1999, obviously i informed other relevant places banks,credit card companies etc .but i havent ever informed passport office

At the moment, you are not required to inform the IPS of any change of address, until such time as you are renewing your passport.

David

We're flying to Ibiza on October 8th, and have just realised that the kids passports run out on 12th December (we just assumed the passports had the same expiry date as ours :/ ).

Spain don't require a 3 month validity, but Thomson do, are they totally strict about this ?
We're going to be unable to get the passports extended or renewed in time, as one of them turned 16 yesterday, so would need a first adult passport instead of a renewal, and the 2 week service would JUST fit in, if it does only take 2 weeks, but it's cutting it very close!

I'll be going into Thomson in the morning to ask, but if anyone has had any experience of this, I would appreciate any advice.

I honestly hadn't realised it was 5 years ago that we got the passports

this happened to my cousin last year and my aunty rang up the passport agency and asked them but she was going to greece so it may be different. we live not far from durham which is where the passport agency is and they do passports there and then if you call in but it does cost more to do this so failing the above this could be your other option!!
good luck lindsay

Unfortunately, according to the passport site, they don't do first adult passports on fast track, and the oldest would need one as he has just hit 16, so can't have his child passport renewed.

I'll have to see what Thomson say.

I emailed Thomsons as my son didn't have six months left on passport the reply was as long as the passport is valid you are able to travel,he went to Spain.

I went into Thomson, who were adamant that the passport needed 3 months validity.
I then called the UKPA who advised me to contact the Spanish Embassy, who confirmed that as long as the passport is valid for the duration of the trip, it was fine.

I've just called the Thomson advice line, and explained to them the response from the Spanish Embassy, and the UKPA, and they have put a note on the booking system that the passports are valid for travel, and confirmed that there shouldn't be a problem.

So, panic over!

The UKPA also said that as the oldest child has a current child passport, getting an Adult passport is considered a renewal, so it can be done on the fast track appointment system, useful to know for the future.

Im not sure if this is in the right place, if it isnt could you move it Fiona?

My sons passport has only got a few weeks left on it, so it needs renewing. But its badly damaged. The outside of it looks ok, but the page where his photo is and details have been cut up ( someone left the scissors out so he decided to cut it)

Anyway, my question is, when i apply to get him a new one do i apply for a replacement passport as its been damaged, or should i send it back and get it renewed?

I would say get it renewed if its only got a few weeks left on it. I think if you ask for a replacement it will come back with the expiry date the same.

If you renew it, the unexpired time will be added on to the new passport.

Thanks, thats what i was thinking, but under the replacement section it says use this for passports that are damaged.

Ill have to ring them up
Nicola

I'd ring to check because if his photo is still visible you don't need to have his new photo countersigned on the renewal. If it's been defaced you probably will need to. I'd check.

Changes to passport rules for young people

Young people aged 16 or 17 will be able to apply for a passport without parental consent, the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) announced today.

The new measure will bring passports in line with modern legal practice for 16 and 17 year olds. Parental consent will still be needed where a court order requires it or the young person has a mental disability.

The conclusions of a review of policy on passports for children also agreed that all passport renewals for children under 11 will require a counter signatory. IPS will no longer require parental views before issuing passports to 16 and 17 year olds who have changed name. The measures will come into force on 10 December.

Home Office Minister Meg Hillier said:

"Today's changes will bring passport practice into line with court practice on allowing young people to take responsibility for their own decisions.

"At the same time a new requirement will be introduced for children aged 11 or under for passport renewals to be countersigned. It is important that we positively identify children so that passports cannot be used to facilitate child abduction or human trafficking."

(Crown copyright material reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland)

We are travelling on Thurs 3 Jan to Fuerteventura and have realised my passport expires April 2008. Will this cause a problem as I understand some countries need more than 12 months on passports? Travelled in August to Gran Can with no problems.

Can anyone put my mind at ease before I start partying

Cheers & Happy New Year - John

Hi John ... there is no minimum passport validity requirement for Spain, other than it should remain valid for the duration of your stay. However, some airlines and tour operators do have a 6 month minimum passport validity requirement for all destinations, irrespective of official entry regulations. Hopefully you are not booked with one of those companies !!

David

I'm about to apply for 5 passports (Me, hubby and 3 kids) - can I send all the applications in one envelope or should I send them separately in the standard passport envelopes?

Thanks

Melodymac,

Send them all in the same envelope. It should help guarantee they are all dealt with by the same regional office.