Anyone who is due to renew their passport are set to lose out due to a little-publicised change to rules brought in by the Home Office. Up until last week, when British citizens renewed their passports, time remaining on the existing document was automatically added to the new one - up to a maximum of 9 months. This no longer applies, and any remaining months will be lost if an attempt is made to renew the passport early. So, you can still renew your passport up to 9 months before your existing document expires but you’ll lose any remaining months.

According to the Home Office, this has been implemented to meet international guidelines relating to maximum passport validity, and to ensure that people travelling abroad will be compliant with border entry requirements around the world. As I’m sure people know, many countries do not allow visitors entry if they have less than 6 months validity on their passport.

Mike

Thank you for sharing that information. 

I didn't know about that and I need to renew my passport in about 18 months time.

Cheers

Di

I renewed my passport in July this year - expiry date was in November and the extra months have been added to my new passport and it expires in November 2028. Not sure when the new rules have kicked in - must be very recent. The good thing is now you can submit the application to renew your passport online using a digital photo. Guidance is given about how to take the photo and when you upload it, you instantly get a message if it is not in the correct format and you can try uploading another photo. It is very quick. Once the application is accepted you are given a reference number and information about where to send your old passport. You are kept informed and your old and new passport are mailed separately to you.

Regards

Jaya

My passport runs out next July and I was going to renew it early next year before all the changes kick in but think I'll wait until nearer the time now I've seen your post rather than lose months, luckily I won't need it until September so renewing in June/July should (even with the summer rush) give me plenty of time to renew.

So thank you for highlighting this meaning I have avoided losing months.

Donna