New Passport and Estas - Timing

[QueenMab]

Right. DS needs a new passport before we fly in July. We have not done Estas for our trip yet as I knew DS would need a new passport.

DS is 15. He turns 16 in April. His passport expires in June.

My understanding is that you have to have a passport that extends to your trip when you book your esta so we couldn't do our estas now on his current passport as it won't match his passport when we fly. Is this right? If so do I:

1. Get him a child passport now and then book estas - I presume his passport will then last for 5 years and will be OK despite him turning 16?

2. Wait until April and order him an adult passport and then apply for estas.

My inclination is to do 1. but can't find out any info about him turning 16 and passport validity.

Can anyone help? Thank you.

[DisneyLass]

You can get his new passport now but would be a child one again.
They’ll only allow an adult passport application if within 3 weeks of turning 16yrs old
Don’t think waiting times are too bad so I think you’d be ok to wait until 3 weeks before his birthday then get him an adult one

[dan223]

I believe it should last for 5 years regardless of his age. Personally I wouldn't leave it so late to do it in April, processing times at the moment are around 4 weeks, it could increase as more people look to go on holiday. You need to allow a minimum of 10 weeks. That being said, in the unlikelihood the ESTA is rejected, the chance of getting an appointment for a visa before July now is unlikely

[JP81]

Originally Posted by dan223

I believe it should last for 5 years regardless of his age. Personally I wouldn't leave it so late to do it in April, processing times at the moment are around 4 weeks, it could increase as more people look to go on holiday. You need to allow a minimum of 10 weeks. That being said, in the unlikelihood the ESTA is rejected, the chance of getting an appointment for a visa before July now is unlikely

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An over 16 Adult passport is valid for 10 years.
I agree about the timing though, the U16 passport last 5 years for £50.
Seems a sensible thing to renew now.

[dan223]

Originally Posted by JP81

An over 16 Adult passport is valid for 10 years.
I agree about the timing though, the U16 passport last 5 years for £50.
Seems a sensible thing to renew now.

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Yes sorry my reply wasn’t clear, I mean for the option 1, and clarifying the validity question, a child passport will last for 5 years regardless of his age.

[Young Pooh]

I've just renewed Dd's child passport for an adult one. I did it online and from sending old passport back to getting the new one took about a week. The processing times were stated as 4 weeks.

[Jakey Neverland]

I have done the rest of my family ESTAs over the weekend. Will do my remaining 2 children once their new passports are back.

If it was me I would probably do the same and apply for an adult one for him in April. Then do his ESTA.