Passport Renewal Recommendation

I would do it given it's within the 6 month window for mandatory renewal. Better safe that sorry.

Look into whether you/he can do it online... That is very quick now.

I would do it given it's within the 6 month window for mandatory renewal.

Huh?

When in January does the passport expire and when does the OP leave Schengen? The way I'm reading the OP the passport will have 5 months 4 at the least validity.

Third-country nationals are supposed to possess a passport valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen territory.

Legal basis
Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union
Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code)1
Article 6 The entry conditions for third-country nationals
1. For intended stays on the territory of the Member States of a duration of no more than 90 days in
any 180-day period, which entails considering the 180-day period preceding each day of stay2
, the
entry conditions for third-country nationals shall be the following:
(a) they are in possession of a valid travel document entitling the holder to cross the border
satisfying the following criteria:
(i) its validity shall extend at least three months after the intended date of departure
from the territory of the Member States. In a justified case of emergency, this
obligation may be waived;
(ii) it shall have been issued within the previous 10 years;

Also as far as I understand understand under 16 year olds, their passports have to be applied for in person https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/under-16.html

Just remember we're anonymous posters on an internet forum.

What VAP wrote.

As long as you leave more than three months before the expiration date, you'll be fine.

I can't comment knowledgeably about European validity period requirements but from what other responders say you will likely have enough time left on the current passport. Since your trip is only 3 months away you are cutting it close if you want to get a new one beforehand. You can't renew a child's passport online or by mail. You will need to go through the same bureaucratic process you did to get him his first one, i.e., an in-person appointment at a passport facility with both parents present.

Also any question one can use the IATA TravelCenter https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/

The IATA TravelCentre is the official public portal for travelers to access the same Timatic database used by airlines to verify passport, visa, and health requirements.

"I would do it given it's within the 6 month window for mandatory renewal. Better safe that sorry."

What "6 month window for mandatory renewal" are you talking about? Schengen is 3 months from your date of departure from the region.

Requirements for passport validity vary widely by country. There is no six months requirement as a general rule.

Some countries require 6 months validity but ai can’t speak for the countries you will be visiting. Assuming 3 months is fine, then I would not renew it before trip. Make an appointment with your local office (must be in person) for after your trip and maybe before school restarts. I have a kid a few years older than yours.

I have all our passport renewals scheduled (for me to remember to renew) on my calendar starting 9 months before they expire as it is easily forgettable. We also have 2 different passports each so double the work and process and they are about 2 years apart for validity and different dates.