Passports

[Jonathan]

I renewed my passport last month online. It was a complete doddle! Just as well as we're currently sat in Liverpool airport and flying to Naples (Italy, not Florida...) in less than 2 hours...

[oddoneout]

The last time we renewed our passports, the new ones ran for the full 10 years plus the remaining period left on the old one (though that may not apply now). If, like us, you don't have a driving licence, a passport seems to be the only acceptable alternative proof of identity for financial institutions and the like.

This is from https://www.gov.uk/renew-adult-passport/renew

If your passport’s expired, you must renew it before you can travel. You can renew your passport at any time.

Time left on your old passport will not be added to your new one.

This is one of the articles about it

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/sep/14/uk-passports-could-lose-up-to-nine-months-validity-after-rule-change

[sidneyfox]

As a dual national, I have more wriggle-room concerning European travel, but the issue you raise affects me for travel outside the EU. Many countries require a minimum of 6 months remaining on your passport. Previously, when you renewed your passport early to take into account this problem, you would still get the full ten years. Now, it runs from the date when your new passport is issued. I lost 6 my months off my British passport when I renewed it earlier this year. So did my wife. It doesn’t affect us post-Brexit as the EU won’t put this requirement on British passport holders.

[Pulcinella]

As a dual national, I have more wriggle-room concerning European travel, but the issue you raise affects me for travel outside the EU. Many countries require a minimum of 6 months remaining on your passport. Previously, when you renewed your passport early to take into account this problem, you would still get the full ten years. Now, it runs from the date when your new passport is issued. I lost 6 my months off my British passport when I renewed it earlier this year. So did my wife. It doesn’t affect us post-Brexit as the EU won’t put this requirement on British passport holders.

Not sure who the 'us' is here (you and your wife?) or which requirement you're talking about.


From the government site:

Travelling to the EU if there’s no Brexit deal
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, after 31 October 2019, you’ll need:

at least 6 months left on your passport when you travel to most EU countries
a passport that’s less than 10 years old (even if it has 6 months or more left)

[ardcarp]

Many countries require a minimum of 6 months remaining on your passport. Previously, when you renewed your passport early to take into account this problem, you would still get the full ten years. Now, it runs from the date when your new passport is issued. I lost 6 my months off my British passport when I renewed it earlier this year. So did my wife. It doesn’t affect us post-Brexit as the EU won’t put this requirement on British passport holders.

Exactly the situation we're in now. Mrs A and I have just sent ours off via the Post Office renewal system...costing the best part of £200...and will only receive a nine-and-a-half-year passport back. And WHEN we get it back remains to be seen. The (very helpful) post office person said the turn around time is likely to be longer than usual because of the demand caused by guess what. So, short of an expensive emergency trip to Newport, we're basically trapped in the UK until further notice.

Does anyone with a continental relative (or spouse) know how passport renewal is done in more civilised countries?

Personally I think it is a citizen's right to hold a passport, and I think a fee of £85 is pretty outrageous.

Ed. PS I don't give a t**s what colour it is!!!

[CGR]

Passports are covered by international agreements arranged through the International Civil Aviation Organisation and apply to all the countries that have signed up. Most issue 10 year passports, some 5 year and a small number of countries set their own odd time limits. All have to apply the 6 months rule. The passport is the property of the issuing Government not the individual.

Interestingly the UK allows individuals to hold two passports if they are very frequent travellers so that when one requires renewal or a visa the other can be used. This is normally only issued for business travellers and requires extra documentation and checks.

The UK fee of £75 seems reasonable enough since it gives you the right to travel over the border for £7.50 a year.

[ardcarp]

The passport is the property of the issuing Government not the individual.

Strange that you have to pay for something that isn't your property!

Whilst I appreciate your knowledge of these matters, CGR, my receipt shows the passports costing £85 each plus £9.75 each for the Post Office's services. Applying online I guess reduces the cost, in theory, to £75, but there is the hassle of uploading suitable mug-shots and returning your old passports...which I don't think you can do by stuffing them into your computer.

[MrGongGong]

Interestingly the UK allows individuals to hold two passports if they are very frequent travellers so that when one requires renewal or a visa the other can be used. This is normally only issued for business travellers and requires extra documentation and checks.

Plenty of musicians have two passports if they travel frequently
as do many writers and journalists.... sometimes having been to one country makes if very diffucult to go to another.

[Pulcinella]

Plenty of musicians have two passports if they travel frequently
as do many writers and journalists.... sometimes having been to one country makes if very diffucult to go to another.

My partner contemplated getting two UK passports for business purposes (one could be held up awaiting a visa), but he applied for an Irish passport instead, which he was entitled to (Irish mother). He prefers to use the Irish one for most of his travel these days.

[CGR]

Strange that you have to pay for something that isn't your property!

Whilst I appreciate your knowledge of these matters, CGR, my receipt shows the passports costing £85 each plus £9.75 each for the Post Office's services. Applying online I guess reduces the cost, in theory, to £75, but there is the hassle of uploading suitable mug-shots and returning your old passports...which I don't think you can do by stuffing them into your computer.

You are paying for the service and permission to travel across borders. And, of course, borders need to be managed and controlled. Seems reasonable to me.

[Richard Tarleton]

....
as do many writers and journalists.... sometimes having been to one country makes if very diffucult to go to another.

"Scoop" - William Boot gets visa from the Republic of Ishmaelia's Legation and Consulate-General (if away, leave letters with tobacconist at No 162b), then to the rival Legation for another, only for the consul there to burn his passport....."On the following morning, provided with two passports, William left Croydon aerodrome in his special plane...."

[Pulcinella]

You are paying for the service and permission to travel across borders. And, of course, borders need to be managed and controlled. Seems reasonable to me.

Try telling that to those responsible for trying to sort out the NI/RoI border issues that will ensue if the UK leaves the EU.

[vinteuil]

"Scoop" - William Boot gets visa from the Republic of Ishmaelia's Legation and Consulate-General (if away, leave letters with tobacconist at No 162b), then to the rival Legation for another, only for the consul there to burn his passport....."On the following morning, provided with two passports, William left Croydon aerodrome in his special plane...."

... staying last week in Paris with an old diplomatic mate who 'fessed up that she currently has five passports.



[ ... Mme v, practical as ever, thought it must be a faff remembering which passport you were going to use when booking a flight. ]

.

[alywin]

If, like us, you don't have a driving licence, a passport seems to be the only acceptable alternative proof of identity for financial institutions and the like.

OTOH, if you're trying to renew a driving licence, the website appears to suggest that you can't do it without a valid passport! (Or perhaps someone's got around to changing it to something more sensible by now)