Everything You Need to Know about Passport Expiration

Many people make the mistake of assuming that if their passport is valid, they can travel whenever and wherever they want, but most countries have rules on how long a passport should be valid for in order for people to enter. Passports are valid for 10 years, so it is understandable that most people forget to look at the expiration date. Before you plan for your next trip, make sure you check your passport’s expiration date in case it needs to be renewed.

Passport Validity Rules

Every country has its own entry requirements. Your destination country has every right to deny someone entry if they don’t follow them. When people travel internationally, the country they travel to will require them to have a valid passport for the duration of their trip to ensure they don’t get stuck in the country or overstay their visa. Having a passport that is about to expire can become a problem for travellers trying to return home or for those who wish to extend their trip.

3 Months Validity Rule

Some countries require travellers’ passports to have 3 months validity from the time they arrive in the country. Other countries, like the Schengen countries, require that travellers’ passports are valid for 3 months from the time they leave. Several of these countries are:

6 Months Validity Rule

Other countries will require that a traveller’s passport must be valid for 6 months from the beginning of their trip or from the date of departure. Some of these countries are:

Other Passport Validity Rules

Each country will have slightly different rules. For example, some countries require that a person’s passport is valid upon entry or that their passport is valid for the duration of their stay. Some countries will require that a person’s passport is valid several months after their visa expires and others may require that a person’s passport is valid for 4 months after they depart.

For a complete list of each country’s entry requirements, check out the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice.

What Happens If My Passport Expires Just before My Trip?

If your passport expires or is about to expire just before your trip, you will need to renew it before you can travel, even if this means postponing your trip. A new passport can take up to 10 weeks to be processed. You will need to provide two countersigned passport photos, personal information, and any additional documents the passport office request. You can apply to renew your passport online or by getting a paper form from your local post office. If you can’t wait 10 weeks for your new passport, you have two alternatives. You can use the Online Premium service, which will enable you to get your passport roughly 2 days from the receipt of your application. Alternatively, you can use the 1-week Fast Track service. Both of these services will cost more than a standard passport application, but they can work out cheaper than cancelling your trip or paying the extra fees to rebook your hotel and reschedule your flights.

What Happens If My Passport Expires While I’m Abroad?

If your passport expires while you are on your trip, you can apply for a new passport while you’re abroad or you can apply for an emergency travel document by contacting the nearest embassy or consulate in the country you are visiting or by applying online. You will be required to provide documentation, such as your expired passport, 2 recent passport photos, identity documents, and a valid form of ID. You can find more information on the documents you will need here. A passport can take several weeks to be processed whereas an emergency travel document will take approximately 2 working days to be processed. You will be required to collect your passport or emergency travel document from the embassy or consulate.