How long does my passport need to be valid to travel?
Many countries require your passport to be valid for 6 months, while others only need 3 months or validity for your stay. Check your destination's rule before you book.
Updated
The 6-month passport rule
A common rule is that your passport must be valid for at least 6 months, usually counted from the day you arrive. Many destinations in Asia, the Middle East and Africa use it, including Thailand, the UAE, Indonesia and India.
The reason behind the rule is to make sure visitors do not become stuck in a destination with an expired passport if their travel is delayed.
Common passport validity rules by region
- Schengen Area: 3 months beyond departure, passport issued within last 10 years.
- United Kingdom: valid for the duration of your stay.
- United States: 6 months beyond stay, or just your stay for citizens of the 120+ countries on the US exemption list.
- Canada: valid for the duration of your stay (longer if you need an eTA or visa).
- Japan: valid for the duration of your stay.
- Many countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East: 6 months, usually from arrival.
- Mexico, Brazil, Argentina: valid for your whole stay (Argentina asks for 6 months if you need a visa).
Airlines and the passport rule
Airlines check your passport against your destination's entry rules before you board, because they are fined and must fly you back if you are refused entry. If your passport does not meet your destination's rule, they can refuse to board you.
If you have any doubt, renew your passport. Most countries can issue a new passport in a few weeks; expedited services are available for urgent travel.
Other passport rules to check
Beyond validity, some countries also require blank pages for entry stamps - typically 1 to 4 blank pages. The Schengen Area requires that your passport has been issued within the last 10 years from the date of entry.
How long does my passport need to be valid to travel - FAQ
Many destinations in Asia, the Middle East and Africa ask for at least 6 months of validity, usually counted from the day you arrive. For US citizens, the State Department lists Thailand and Indonesia among them. Rules depend on your passport and change, so check the destination's official site or the State Department's country page before you book.
Yes, to countries with shorter rules. For US, UK and Canadian citizens visiting the Schengen Area, the passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you leave. The UK and Japan only ask for validity for the length of your stay. Countries with a 6-month rule can refuse you.
It depends on your passport. US citizens returning home only need a valid passport. Visitors normally need 6 months beyond their stay, but citizens of countries on the US exemption list, which includes the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and every EU country, only need a passport valid for the length of their stay.
The rule makes sure visitors do not get stuck in a country with an expired passport if their travel is delayed. Airlines check your passport against the destination's rule before you board, because they are fined and must fly you back if you are refused entry, so they apply it strictly at check-in.
Strict where it applies. Airlines can refuse to board you if your passport falls short of the destination's rule, and there is no flexibility at the desk. The State Department notes, for example, that Thai immigration requires passports to be valid for at least six months beyond arrival. If in doubt, renew before you travel.
A US passport is valid for 10 years if you were 16 or older when it was issued, and 5 years if you were under 16. Because many countries want months of validity left on arrival, the date that matters for a trip is usually several months before the expiry date printed inside.