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 Before your next trip, make sure your passport satisfies the six month validity passport rule. As a general rule, passports should have at least six months of validity when traveling internationally. Most countries will not permit a traveler to enter their country unless the passport is set to expire at least six months after the final day of travel. That means if your passport has less than six months remaining until the expiration date, you should renew it right away. Adult passports (16 and older) for U.S. citizens are valid for ten years, while minor passports (15 and younger) for U.S. citizens are valid for 5 years. Passport processing has recently increased to 6-8 weeks, so you may need to consider expediting your passport. What is the six months validity passport rule?It is not a requirement of the U.S. government. The six-month validity passport rule is a requirement of other countries accepting foreign travelers. The six- month passport validity rule is enforced because nations do not want to risk having travelers and tourists overstaying their passport validity. Six months is now the standard validity requirement for many countries. Most visitors to the United States are also now required to have six months validity of their passports. 6 Months Validity Passport Rule ExceptionsSome countries are more relaxed about the 6-month passport validity rule. Canada and Mexico are the two most commonly traveled countries that now often enforce the passport validity rule (only 3 months validity needed for Canada and Mexico). Again, please be sure to check with each countries entry and exit travel requirements before you go as the requirements are subject to change. As a general rule, you should have at least six months validity on your passport before you travel. Renew Your Passport Before Your Upcoming TripOne of the most common mistakes travelers make is not renewing their passport before they travel. You will only make it as far as the airport if you do not have enough validity on your passport. We receive hundreds of phone calls every month from travelers at the airport that are being denied entry on the plane. Don’t let this happen to you. Renew your passport before your upcoming trip! We offer passport expediting services as quickly as 24 hours. Passports Expedited On Time, Every Time. |
| Albania | French Polynesia | Micronesia** | Tajikistan |
| Angola | Guyana | Mozambique | Tanzania |
| Bahrain | Honduras | Namibia | Thailand |
| Belize | Indonesia | New Caledonia | Timor-Leste |
| Bolivia | Iran | Nicaragua | Turkey |
| Botswana | Iraq | Oman | Turkmenistan |
| Brazil | Israel* | Palau | Uganda |
| Brunei | Kenya | Papua New Guinea | Ukraine |
| Burma (Myanmar) | Kiribati | Philippines | Venezuela |
| Burundi | Laos | Russian Federation | Vietnam |
| China | Madagascar | Saudi Arabia | Zambia |
| Cote d’Ivoire | Malaysia | Singapore | |
| Ecuador | Mauritius | Taiwan |
*Some airlines that fly to Israel may require six months validity on your passport. Check with your airline first if you have less than 6 months passport validity.
**Micronesia requires US passport holders to have four months passport validity.
Passport requirements often differ from nation to nation. Be sure to check the entry and exit requirements for each country you plan to travel as these requirements can change regularly.
A passport is a travel document issued by your origin country which allows you to travel internationally. Usually, an ordinary passport is valid for 5 to 10 years, and because of this, most people neglect to check if their passport is about to expire. However, if your passport has less than 3 or 6 months left until expiration, most countries do not allow you to travel.
Don’t forget a passport is different from a traveling visa, and as such, they are not valid for the same amount of time.
What Is the Passport 6 Month Rule?
The 6-month passport rule states that your passport must be valid for another six months before you depart for international travel. Depending on which country you are traveling to, the six-month period may begin from the date you leave that country or the date you arrive.
However, not all countries follow the six-month requirement; some countries require that you have a passport with a three-month duration period. This requirement changes based on where you are traveling and sometimes even based on your nationality. For this reason, you are strongly advised to renew your passport or check with an embassy or consulate what the requirements are.
Why Should My Passport Be Valid for Six Months If I Will Stay Abroad for Less?
Your passport needs to be valid for 6 months to prevent you from overstaying in a foreign country. Suppose your passport expires during your travels, then you are left without a way to return home until you receive an emergency travel document. To avoid this from happening, countries began imposing the “six/three-month passport validity” rule.
What Countries Have a Six-Month Passport Validity Rule?
The countries listed here require you to have a passport with a period of at least 6 months upon arrival:
| Afghanistan | Guyana | Samoa |
| Algeria | Indonesia | Saudi Arabia |
| Anguilla | Iran | Singapore |
| Bahrain | Iraq | Solomon Islands |
| Bhutan | Israel | Somalia |
| Botswana | Jordan | Somaliland |
| British Virgin Islands | Kenya | Sri Lanka |
| Brunei | Kiribati | Sudan |
| Canada* | Laos | Suriname |
| Cambodia | Madagascar | Taiwan |
| Cameroon | Malaysia | Tanzania |
| Cayman Islands | Marshall Islands | Thailand |
| Central African Republic | Micronesia | Timor-Leste |
| Chad | Myanmar | Tokelau |
| Comoros | Namibia | Tonga |
| Côte D’Ivoire | Nicaragua | Tuvalu |
| Curacao | Nigeria | Uganda |
| Ecuador | Oman | United Arab Emirates |
| Egypt | Palau | Vanuatu |
| El Salvador | Papua New Guinea | Venezuela |
| Equatorial Guinea | Philippines | Vietnam |
| Fiji | Qatar | Yemen |
| Gabon | Rwanda | Zimbabwe |
| Guinea Bissau | Saint Lucia |
*Please note that the six-month rule in Canada may change depending on your country of origin— check with an embassy before traveling.
Countries With a Three-Month Passport Validity Requirement
You can travel to these countries with a three-month valid passport:
| Albania* | Lithuania |
| Austria | Luxembourg |
| Azerbaijan | Malta |
| Belarus | Moldova |
| Belgium | Monaco |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Montenegro |
| Czechia | Nauru |
| Estonia | Netherlands |
| Finland | New Zealand |
| France | North Macedonia* |
| Georgia | Norway |
| Germany | Panama* |
| Greece | Poland |
| Honduras* | Portugal |
| Iceland | Senegal* |
| Italy | Slovakia |
| Jordan | Slovenia |
| Kuwait | Spain |
| Latvia | Sweden |
| Lebanon | Switzerland |
| Liechtenstein |
*These countries require a 3-month passport validity from your arrival date into the country. Schengen countries require that you have a passport validity of 3 months from the date you intend to leave the EU.
Countries With Other Passport Validity Requirements
Besides the six-month or three-month passport requirement, some countries require other validity periods:
| Country | Passport Validity Period |
| Bermuda | 45 days upon entry |
| Eritrea | 3 months on arrival |
| Hong Kong | 3 months on arrival |
| Lebanon | 3 months on arrival |
| Macau | 3 months on arrival |
| Micronesia | 4 months on arrival |
| South Africa | 3 months on arrival |
| The Maldives | 3 months on arrival |
| Zambia | 4 months on arrival |
Are There Any Exceptions to the Passport Six-Month Rule?
There are a few exceptions to this rule; for example, you can enter Paraguay as long as your passport is valid, no matter the validity period. Certain other countries may have bilateral agreements with one another to shorten the six-month passport requirement or eliminate it altogether. It all depends on your destination and your country of residence- contact a representative office before departure.
Can I Travel If My Passport Expires in Less Than Six Months?
In normal circumstances, you can’t travel with a passport that expires in less than six months. However, a country with an active agreement with your destination country may allow it. You may even enter with an expired passport in some countries as long as you still have the document with you.
Could I Be Denied Entry Abroad If My Passport Expires Soon?
Yes, you will be denied entry abroad if your passport is about to expire. Additionally, if you need a visa, you won’t receive one with a passport with a validity of less than six (sometimes three) months.
For this reason, you have to make sure that your passport is up-to-date before you travel. If it’s not, then apply for a renewal at your local authority at least a month before.
What If My Passport Expires Abroad?
If your passport expires while you are abroad, contact the embassy or consulate of your country and apply for an emergency travel document. You must remember that most travel emergency documents are valid only until you re-enter your home country; afterward, you must apply for a new passport.
Remember: You cannot leave for your country of residence with an expired passport- wait for the embassy/consulate to help you.
Last Update: 30/06/22
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