Can I use my passport months before it expires?

Be aware of passport expiration rules for your destination Some countries and airlines will not allow a U.S. passport holder to enter if their passport expires in less than 6 months. Check your destination country's U.S. passport expiration rules on the Department of State's country information page.



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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 before expiration, most countries do not allow you to travel.

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Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. Review our U.S. Travelers in Europe page. You will need proof of sufficient funds and a return plane ticket.

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In Asia, nations like China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand enforce this rule. South American countries like Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia also need a passport that's good for six months.

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Many European countries (the Schengen states) require that your passport be valid for at least three months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area.

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Spain is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter Spain for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. You must have sufficient funds and a return airline ticket.

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To enter the United Kingdom, your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your planned stay.

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Passports must be valid for six months beyond your entry date. You will be denied entry into Turkey if there is not enough space for entry and exit stamps in your passport.

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Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after your cruise ends. Read more about passport requirements. Guests age 16 and older whose ARC has no photo must present a valid government issued photo ID.

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For entry into Greece, your passport should have at least six months of remaining validity. While Greek law requires three months of passport validity beyond the intended date of your departure, if you are transiting a country that requires six months of validity, you may not be permitted to continue your trip.

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Answer: No, you cannot travel internationally without a valid passport. Photocopies of passports are not acceptable. If you need your passport to travel internationally and do not have time to wait for routine processing, then you can apply for expedited passport renewal. By mail, this process takes 2-3 weeks.

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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 valid passport 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.

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As a general rule, passports must be valid for six months beyond the date the traveler will exit the United States.

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Have at least six-month's validity remaining on your passport whenever you travel abroad. Check the expiration date on your passport carefully before traveling to Europe – especially children's passports, which are valid five years, not 10 years like those issued to U.S. citizens aged 16 and older.

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Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met.

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