Guide
How long does a UK passport last, and when should you really renew it?
A passport is checked twice: when it arrives and when it is needed. Everything in between is silence — which is why so many people discover a problem while booking a holiday rather than months before.
This guide explains how long a UK passport is valid, why the expiry date alone can be misleading, and when to start the renewal.
How long the passport is valid
Since September 2018, extra months left on an old passport are no longer added to the new one, so a renewal made early does not lose time but also does not extend beyond the standard period.
- Adults: ten years from the date of issue.
- Children under 16: five years.
Why the expiry date is not the whole story
Many countries require a passport to remain valid for a period beyond your planned return — commonly three or six months. A passport that expires in May can therefore be refused for a trip in March.
For travel to most of Europe, two conditions are usually applied together: the passport must have been issued less than ten years before the date of entry, and it must be valid for at least three months after the intended departure. The issue date matters as much as the expiry date.
Requirements are set by the destination, so check the country's entry rules on gov.uk before booking, not after.
When to start the renewal
Processing times vary through the year and are longest in the run-up to summer. Starting six months before expiry covers both the wait and the validity rules above.
- Six months out: begin the renewal.
- Check the whole household at the same time — children's passports expire sooner.
- Note the issue date, not just the expiry date, if you travel in Europe.
Keeping the date somewhere it will speak up
The passport itself is the worst place to store its own expiry date, because it lives in a drawer. A dated reminder with several months of notice is what turns it into something you act on calmly.
In MiRicordi you can save the expiry date with advance notice, add a photo of the details page, and keep the family's documents in the same list so one check covers everyone. Alerts arrive even when the app is closed.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a UK passport valid for?
Ten years for adults and five years for children under 16, counted from the date of issue.
Can I travel with less than six months left on my passport?
It depends entirely on the destination. Many countries outside Europe require three or six months of validity beyond your return date, so check the entry requirements for that country before booking.
Do unused months carry over when I renew?
No. Since September 2018 the remaining months on an expiring passport are no longer added to the new one.
How early should I renew my passport?
About six months before it expires. That covers processing times, which lengthen before the summer, and the validity many destinations require.
How do I remember an expiry date that is years away?
Save it once as a dated reminder with months of advance notice. In MiRicordi the alert arrives on your phone even when the app is closed, and you can attach a photo of the document to it.