Is your passport OK for the trip — and when must you apply?
Enter the travel dates and the passport’s issue and expiry dates. You’ll see whether it passes your destination’s validity rule, and if not, the last day to apply for a standard renewal, the 1 week Fast Track or the 1 Day Premium service. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.
Enter your dates to check.
Standard = usually within 3 weeks (GOV.UK), shown with a 2-week safety buffer. Urgent services need an in-person appointment and can only be used from inside the UK. Fees checked August 2026 — confirm on GOV.UK before paying.
The rules behind the verdict
- EU / Schengen: the passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you enter and valid for at least 3 months after the day you intend to leave. Passports issued before September 2018 could carry up to 9 extra months, so an “in date” passport can fail the 10-year test.
- 6-month countries: a large number of destinations require 6 months’ validity on arrival. Some require it on departure — the calculator uses arrival, which is the safer test.
- Trip-only countries: the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland accept a UK passport that is valid for the length of the stay. Electronic travel authorisations (ESTA, eTA, ETA) are tied to the passport number — a renewed passport needs a new one.
Current fees and speeds (GOV.UK)
| Service | Adult | Child | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard online | £102 | £66.50 | Usually within 3 weeks; no guaranteed date |
| Standard paper form | £115.50 | £80 | Slower than online |
| 1 week Fast Track | £192 | £156.50 | Appointment from next day; couriered 1 week after |
| 1 Day Premium (adult renewals only) | £239.50 | — | Appointment from 2 days after applying; collect 4 hours later |
Next steps
- Renewing in good time: how long a UK passport renewal takes · child passports.
- Already too late: urgent options before a holiday.
- Going to the EU? Get a free GHIC too.
Frequently asked questions
How does the calculator decide if my passport is valid for the trip?
It applies the destination rule you pick to your dates. For the EU/Schengen area a passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you enter and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. Many other countries require 3 or 6 months’ validity on arrival. For the UK, Ireland and most of the Americas the passport only needs to be valid for the whole trip. Always confirm on GOV.UK’s foreign travel advice for your destination.
Where do the apply-by dates come from?
GOV.UK says a standard application usually arrives within 3 weeks but with no guaranteed date, so the calculator sets the standard apply-by date 5 weeks before departure (3 weeks plus a 2-week buffer for busy periods or a rejected photo). The 1 week Fast Track apply-by is 10 days before departure (next-day appointment, courier a week later, 2 days’ margin). The 1 Day Premium apply-by is 4 days before (appointment 2 days after applying, collect 4 hours later). Fees are the current GOV.UK figures.
Is this private?
Yes. Everything is calculated in your browser; no dates or passport details are sent anywhere or stored.
Does the calculator work for a child’s passport?
Yes — choose “Child”. Child passports last 5 years, cost £66.50 online, and the only urgent service available is the 1 week Fast Track (£156.50); the 1 Day Premium is for adult renewals only, so it is hidden for children.