Oftentimes, the best way to stay legal while traveling is to verify your passport is valid for at least six months. Otherwise, customs may end your trip before it begins. So, if your passport is within weeks of its expiration date, be sure to apply for a new one right away.
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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.
Entry, Exit and Visa RequirementsYour 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.
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.
Quick Facts. PASSPORT VALIDITY: Six months validity recommended, at least 3 months validity beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Passport validity and the at least six months ruleFor certain nationalities, the passport or other travel document must be valid for at least six months beyond the proposed stay in the United States.