We are planning a trip to Spain in January. Our passports expire next July. Due to the expiration being less than six months from travel date, we are applying for new passports now. In the meantime, I am booking trains, Alhambra tickets and other attractions that are asking for my passport number. I am putting my current number in, but it will be a different number when we actually travel. How important is it that these numbers match? Do you think I have to go back into each reservation and attempt to update the passport numbers when we get them? Along those lines, does anyone have good information about the new visa requirements for Europe for 2024? Thank you in advance. This forum is invaluable for travel planning.
Posted by
Chicago
7861 posts
At the Alhambra they don't check the passport, so it is not important that you don't have the number correct.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11181 posts
Along those lines, does anyone have good information about the new visa requirements for Europe for 2024?
Presumably you are asking about ETIAS
Currently, the ETIAS go-live is expected in May 2025 at the earliest.
Swiss State Secretariat for Migration
Posted by
Lake District, England
5811 posts
Regarding the new ETIAS scheme for Europe there are many other threads on this, but short story it is now officially postponed (again) until 2025. It will certainly not be in force in January 2024.
Posted by
Placerville, ca, us
136 posts
Good to hear you are in the process.. our new passports took 14 weeks
Posted by
Upstate NY, USA
824 posts
No, no one will care that your passport ## doesn't match.
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1674 posts
Good to hear you are in the process.. our new passports took 14 weeks
Just sent mine in for renewal. Hopes it is better than 14 weeks.
Posted by
US
598 posts
If we have a US government shutdown, passport applications will be further delayed. Sorry!
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
513 posts
I agree: it's likely that anyone will notice or care. If they happen to notice (for some very odd reason), just explain that you got a new passport.
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1674 posts
f we have a US government shutdown, passport applications will be further delayed. Sorry!
Isn't there a threat of a government shutdown every 6 months or is it election time again?
Posted by
San Diego, CA
23 posts
From travelers I follow, some have received their renew passport within two weeks:
1) By applying with expedite service ~$60
2) Include expedite delivery fee ~$20
3) Mail through the post office w/receipt of delivery.
Point 2 is critical bc even after approval, mail back can take 1-2 weeks.
Point 3 gives you state of mind delivery went through and starts your time clock.
Recently and without point 2, I know friends and family getting their renew passport within 2-4 weeks.
As for entering your numbers in your booked activities + airlines, I think this is the least of your worries. Even so, when you get your new passport, you can always re-enter your new numbers.
Personally, I would have to have a lot of guts applying for a passport this close to an expensive Europe trip and all of the excitement of the trip.
Good luck!!
Posted by
TX, USA
4113 posts
Was my experience strange? In March, I had to show my passport and my ticket purchase proof for first entrance at the Alhambra. From then on, scanning my passport (they weren’t interested in the ticket) was what enabled me to move from section to section. That might not be a factor with a new passport, but it would be enough to make me bring the old one also.
For trains, the only thing checked was the QR code for my tickets.