What is the 6 month travel rule?

Visitors traveling to the United States are required to be in possession of passports that are valid for six months beyond the period of their intended stay in the United States. Citizens of the countries listed below are exempt the six-month rule and need only have a passport valid for their intended period of stay.



The "6-month rule" is a critical passport requirement enforced by many countries to ensure that visitors have a valid travel document for the duration of their stay plus a safety buffer. Essentially, many nations will deny you entry—and airlines may deny you boarding—if your passport is set to expire in less than six months from the date of your arrival or your planned departure. This rule is strictly enforced in popular destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, and many Middle Eastern countries. Even in the Schengen Area (most of Europe), your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your intended date of departure. In 2026, as travel volumes hit record highs, border agents are increasingly meticulous about this. If you are at the five-month mark, it is a high-priority recommendation to renew your passport immediately. Nothing is more heartbreaking than being turned away at the check-in counter for a dream vacation because of a small date on your ID; always check the specific entry requirements of your destination at least two months before you fly.

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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.

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Six Month Club Requirements: 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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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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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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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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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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PASSPORT VALIDITY: Six months validity recommended, at least 3 months validity beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area. BLANK PASSPORT PAGES: Two pages required for entry stamp.

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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. We recommend that you have at least six months of validity to avoid any travel disruptions.

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If your passport is about to expire, please take note of the following travel requirements: Entry into any of the European countries in the Schengen Area for short-term tourism, business trips or in transit to a non-Schengen destination requires your passport be valid for at least three months beyond your intended date ...

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Use your old passport and you will be able to travel anywhere as long as there is 6 months validity remaining. Might be different for each country. In the US they take your old passport while processing the new one.

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Spain currently does not have any plans of changing the 90-day rule. Technically, this rule is not under Spanish jurisdiction, as it is a rule that applies to the whole Schengen Area. So even if Spain wanted to change this rule, the change can only be initiated by authorities of the European Union.

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