Passport question - renew now or next year?

UK is a little different than other places, and they only require that the passport be valid for the duration of your stay. I think you're good. I would wait till I got back from there and then go ahead and renew it online, which is super easy and very quick.

EDIT: Sorry, I just saw that you were also going to Italy. Italy requires that it be valid for three additional months after expiration, so you're still good there. My answer stays the same.

Don't forget that you also need the ETA to enter Scotland.

Italy requires that it be valid for three additional months after expiration,

I think she means three months after exiting Schengen.

And the ETA prices go up on Feb. 25, so if you don't renew your passport you can save a few pounds by getting them now. Just be sure to use the official UK government site and not a third party. See: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/new-uk-eta-changes

If you decide to renew your passports then you'd need to wait to get your ETA as it's attached to your passport number.

Go to: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html > Find International Travel Information > enter the country name ( United Kingdom…) in the Learn about your destination field. Scroll down to the Travel requirements section > Valid passport requirements. Do the same for Italy.

I think she means three months after exiting Schengen.

She did (sigh). 😊 Thanks for catching that, Frank.

Daniel, here is a link to the official UK website for getting your ETA. Do not go to any other because they will charge you an enormous fee. this will give you all the information you need and direct you to the app where you will actually apply for the ETA. I strongly suggest using the app and not the website, as it is much easier. https://www.gov.uk/eta

If an airline takes you to Italy and for some visa or passport reason you are not eligible to enter Italy the airline can be stuck with the cost of returning you to the US. So the airlines try the best they can to cover the collective ….. and use the services of the IATA. Every major airline in the world apparently.

When you check in and they scan your passport to see if it and your ticket conform to the entrance requirements for your destination. Things like can you as a “whatever” citizen enter without a visa and do you have enough days on your passport before expiration and is there any other documentation required for your situation.

It doesn’t matter what the US State Department says on their website (although its good to read too), if the IATA computer says you aren’t getting on the plane, well, you aren’t getting on the plane until you meet the requirements in their system. They dont want so border agent rejecting you and then they have to take you home.

So, go to the source: IATA has a consumer portal with the same information access as the airlines will have: https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/ It takes less than 5 minutes to input your data for each country you are visiting to see what the rules are. There is a lot of drop down menus so make sure you open them all.

Thanks for all the responses. I did check, and my passport will be good for this trip. I checked all the resources and the 3-month mark seems to be what Italy requires, so good there. The UK has a good while traveling rule, so good there.

Will also get my ETA this week before prices go up!

Thank again for all the help and removing any passport expiration confusion!

One thing to consider is the "comfort" of getting the renewal off your plate ASAP, as it opens up the options to travel spontaneously for another 10 years, rather than keeping you blocked out from - for you - 10/10/26 until the renewal is completed. IOW, if you have no plans for May-July international travel, it might be a relief to just "get it done" and be free to not think about it again until 2036.

You're fine on your plans (as others replied), but I have found having my just renewed passport in my hands is refreshing and since I'm a "planner" - ie trying to keep several trips in planning & executing stages - it is nice to again have the flexibility to plot out my next year or two of travel ideas without any constraints on where or when.