Childs passport expiring in middle of cruise

[Curiousporpoise]

Where are you located? Some cities have passport offices where you can apply/renew and pick up your own passport same or next day. Google your location and see if that’s available. I had a flight to Hong Kong once and needed 6+ months on my passport which I didn’t have. I was able to go down to Passport Agency in the federal building and expedite my passport renewal with a letter from my employer. I picked it up the next day, and I think it was an additional $65 to expedite at the time.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks this makes so much since. I am not sure why I kept thinking that "not able to renew" means you can't start the process earlier. This helps me out a lot.

"Not able to renew" is totally what it says. You can't "renew" a passport for a child under 16. It's considered a totally new passport, and you apply the same as for the original passport.

 

[soniam]

"Not able to renew" is totally what it says. You can't "renew" a passport for a child under 16. It's considered a totally new passport, and you apply the same as for the original passport.

Except, you also have to turn in the old passport, which is not true for actual new applications. Also, child “renewals” do not usually take as long as a new application, because some background check had already been done. They want them to always have a new photo, since kids change a lot, and to have the parent representation, so that’s why it has to be done in person.

 

[ljhayes]

Except, you also have to turn in the old passport, which is not true for actual new applications. Also, child “renewals” do not usually take as long as a new application, because some background check had already been done. They want them to always have a new photo, since kids change a lot, and to have the parent representation, so that’s why it has to be done in person.

You don't have to submit a child's old passport with a new application. You can do the application with just the birth certificate.

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

I think that just means you can’t renew by mail or online for kids passports— have to do it in person & go through everything again with both parents, etc.

Definitely start the process before expiration.

Ditto. We just had to do this for our kids. Both parents and allll the documents. New pictures too.

 

[MJB03]

We just had to renew my son's passport for our cruise in November. We did expedited and got it back in 4 weeks. We almost had to wait longer for the appointment at the post office than the actual passport.

 

[Calantha]

. Also, child “renewals” do not usually take as long as a new application, because some background check had already been done.

Maybe that used to be true, but we totally got his original one in 2018 waaaay faster than we got his new-renewal this year (or whatever people want to call it).

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

One thing to remember - children’s passports have different length of validity than adults (5 yr vs 7 yr I think?). When planning a trip always check the expiration date for all party members.

I had gotten my daughters first passport when I last renewed mine. For an upcoming trip, I checked my passports date, and glanced at the date on hers - same expiration day, so didn’t think much about it. Closer to the trip, I checked again., and realized the years were different! Surprise!

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

Maybe that used to be true, but we totally got his original one in 2018 waaaay faster than we got his new-renewal this year (or whatever people want to call it).

I think it’s almost always, and still true. All processing time (new and “renewal”) are taking longer these days. The child “renewal” is still probably shorter than a new child passport.

 

[lanejudy]

children’s passports have different length of validity than adults (5 yr vs 7 yr I think?)

5 years for children (issued prior to age 16)
10 years for adults (issued at 16+)

You don't have to submit a child's old passport with a new application. You can do the application with just the birth certificate.

We've always had to submit the child's old passport with a new application. The one time we couldn't find it, we had to do an extra form that declared it lost.

 

[ljhayes]

We've always had to submit the child's old passport with a new application. The one time we couldn't find it, we had to do an extra form that declared it lost.

Interesting. We did not submit my son's old one with his last "renewal" and had no issues.

 

[Mango7100]

You don't have to submit a child's old passport with a new application. You can do the application with just the birth certificate.

We had to turn DDs old passport (which was still good for 5 months) in with her application in Feb. we received in back with the new one but the old one had holes punched in it to invalidate it. I believe you have to turn the old one in if it is not expired for fraud/security reasons.

 

[ljhayes]

I believe you have to turn the old one in if it is not expired for fraud/security reasons.

Ah, ours was expired so possibly that's the difference? Although I don't recall anyone even asking if the kids had old ones (one did and one didn't).

 

[tvguy]

It depends on the country. Some require 6 months validity past your travel dates, others just require you to have a valid passport.

You are factually correct, but most experienced travelers make sure they have at least 6 months left on their Passport. Your intended destination my not require 6 months left, but if something unexpected happens and you have to fly out of an unscheduled port, it could be in a nation that requires 6 months.

 

[soniam]

You don't have to submit a child's old passport with a new application. You can do the application with just the birth certificate.

They have always required that we submit the old passport once he had obtained a passport. We only used the birth certificate for his first passport. His passport never expired before it was renewed.

Maybe that used to be true, but we totally got his original one in 2018 waaaay faster than we got his new-renewal this year (or whatever people want to call it).

They are all slow as snot now. By faster, I mean his last one a few months ago only took 2 months versus the 3 that I have been hearing from some others. I also know that before Covid, our son’s always came back sooner than our renewals.

 

[unrequited23]

Weird tip: check to see if your local library is authorized to process passport applications/renewals. Ours takes the photos for a fee, has a shorter wait for appointments and is a nicer place to wait (especially with kids.)

 

[mjkacmom]

Interesting. We did not submit my son's old one with his last "renewal" and had no issues.

I think I just checked the box stating had one but lost it. If travel is soon and closed loop, if you only have one official birth certificate get another, since you need to send the birth certificate as well.

 

[ljhayes]

They have always required that we submit the old passport once he had obtained a passport. We only used the birth certificate for his first passport. His passport never expired before it was renewed.

I just looked at the application and it does have an option to not submit it if it's expired, so there lies the disconnect! If it's not expired, you have to submit it (or claim it lost or stolen), if it's expired you don't have to submit it.

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

I just looked at the application and it does have an option to not submit it if it's expired, so there lies the disconnect! If it's not expired, you have to submit it (or claim it lost or stolen), if it's expired you don't have to submit it.

Yup. The issue is the possibility of there being two valid passports for the same individual in existence. If that’s the case, they want them both in their control (if at all possible) so they can make one invalid.

 

[Mommb]

Weird tip: check to see if your local library is authorized to process passport applications/renewals. Ours takes the photos for a fee, has a shorter wait for appointments and is a nicer place to wait (especially with kids.)

Good tip! We did this for my daughter’s most recent passport. Our library allowed us to make an evening appointment and had more convenient hours than our post office.