I'm going to Germany for work in August but my passport is due to expire when I will be there and therefore needs renewing. How long does it take to get your new passport back and do you have to pay for a renewal?
you can renew 9 months before the last one runs out. Usually seems to take 2-4 weeks, though there's a more expensive express service. Anyway, do it now. Yes, you have to pay lots for what should be yours by right; and the regulations governing pohotographs are very picky indeed.
it will be a lot easier to renew it before you go and they tag on the remaining time with your new passport, queuing up at Embassies in a foreign country and they usually only open until 1pm is going to mean more than one trip.
Better be safe than sorry.
forgot to add, of course you have to pay for each renewal, ask at your local post office when you collect the forms, use hteir fast track service its cost a little more but is worth it and have it returned by their courier service to be on the safe side, should take about 14 days if you do it now, but if you wait until the "summer rush" expect it to take longer.