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Can you travel to Europe with a passport expiring soon?

Some airlines require your passport to be valid for six months to allow boarding. For this reason, we recommend that your passport have at least six months validity remaining whenever you travel in Europe.



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PASSPORT VALIDITY: At least three months beyond date of departure from the Schengen area. The 12-page U.S. emergency passport is not valid for visa-free entry into France.

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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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Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements 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. For additional information about visas for the Schengen area, see the Schengen Visa page.

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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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Visitors traveling to the U.S. are required to be in possession of passports that are valid for six months beyond the period of their intended stay in the U.S.

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The countries listed here require you to have a passport with a period of at least 6 months upon arrival:
  • Afghanistan.
  • Algeria.
  • Anguilla.
  • Bahrain.
  • Bhutan.
  • Botswana.
  • British Virgin Islands.
  • Brunei.


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Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay if you plan on transiting a Schengen country. Please review our U.S. Travelers in Europe page. We recommend that your passport have at least six months' validity remaining.

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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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Passport Validity for France Entry into France for short-term tourism (90 days) or business requires that your passport be valid for at least three months beyond your intended 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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Should You Carry Your Passport With You in Europe? A passport serves many roles, but most importantly, it identifies travelers in foreign countries. Moreover, per international air travel standards, all passengers must have passports. Even if you plan to cruise to Europe and back, most cruise lines require a passport.

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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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As a general rule, passports must be valid for six months beyond the date the traveler will exit the United States. However, the United States has signed agreements with a number of countries to waive this requirement.

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