Passport rip off ?

[hammerman]

My 13 year old daughter's passport runs out next March. We want to book a holiday to Florda in November but have been informed that we must have at least 6 months remaining on the passport to travel.

So is her passport valid for 5 years or for 4 1/2 years ?

[sophie_1003]

This is common practise I believe; it does seem a bit of a rip off when you put it like that though!

[Mosaic]

Not when you view it from the host country's perspective - people can 'disappear' in both countries, and the host country s the hassle then of tracing illegals.
Surely you'd want visitors to the UK to have passports valid to cover the length of a holiday stay?

[237SJ]

Who told you that? UK nationals need a passport that is valid for their stay in the US. A few countries specify that you have to have six months left (Singapore for example) but the US isn`t one of them.

[Buenchico]

AAGH! BLOODY TRAVEL AGENTS!!!

SOME countries require a minimum period of validity on a passport when you enter (or plan to leave) their country. Rather than train their staff properly, many travel agencies tell their staff to (incorrectly) instruct customers that ALL countries have that rule! (GRRR!!!!)

The USA DOES have a '6 month validity' rule for visitors from MOST countries but there is an agreement with the UK government that means that the rule does NOT apply to holders of BRITISH passports.

Do NOT believe the travel agents. Instead put your trust in this answer from the website of the United States Embassy:
http://london.usembas...passports.html#niv079

If you do decide to renew your daughter's passport anyway, she will NOT lose any period of validity. Whenever you renew a British passport, any unexpired period on the old passport is automatically added to the validity of the new one (up to a maximum of 9 months). So, if you were to renew your daughter's passport in September, her new passport would be valid for 5 years 6 months.

Chris

[hammerman]

You're a star Chris. Thanks.

[boxtops]

I endorse that - I renewed my passport four months early, and the unexpired period was added to the end date of the new passport.

(I wish it hadn't, I'd like it to expire much sooner so I can get a new pic, my current photo looks like a mad Russian grandmother, LOL.)