Excited for your vacation or business trip, you grab your passport and freeze—it’s expiring in less than six months.
Should you cancel your plans? Maybe not.
In this article, you’ll learn which countries don’t require six months of passport validity, making last-minute travel possible.
Do you have other passport-related questions? These articles might help:
- Can You Fly with an Expired Passport? [2024 Guide]
- Do You Need a Passport for Cancun? [Cases Explained]
- Mexico Passport Expiration Rules and Requirements [2024]
- Do You Need a Passport to Go to Canada?
- Do You Need a Passport to Go to Tijuana?
What’s the 6-Month Passport Validity Rule?
The 6-month passport validity rule requires passports to be valid for at least six months beyond the travel date. This prevents travelers from overstaying or facing issues if their passport expires abroad.
The good news?
Not all countries follow this rule.
Countries without the 6-Month Validity Rule: Map and List
Check out this map of countries that don’t enforce the 6-month passport validity rule, or use the list below to find your country of interest.
Where you can go if your passport expires in less than six months:
- Central & North America: Mexico, Canada, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Jamaica, Bahamas, Belize, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Aruba, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat.
- South America: Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, French Guiana, Falkland Islands.
- Member countries of Europe’s Schengen Area: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
- Europe: United Kingdom, Ukraine, Belarus, Ireland, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Andorra, and Monaco.
- Asia: Japan, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Syria, Kazakstan, Israel, Lebanon, Georgia, and Armenia.
- Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, and Nauru.
- Africa: South Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles.
- Dependencies or other territories: Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau.
Six months of validity is recommended but not required in:
- San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus.
Is your destination country on the list? Or do you need to postpone your trip? Either way, if your passport’s about to expire, you should renew it.
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Related articles:
- How Much Does a Passport Cost?
- How to Staple Your Passport Photo [Visual Examples]
- Does Your Passport Number Change When You Renew It?
- Renew Your Mexican Passport in the USA [2024 Guide]
Which Airlines Require a 6-month Passport Validity?
Airlines per se don’t enforce the 6-month passport validity rule.
If you meet the validity requirements of the country you’re traveling to, the airline should let you board the plane.
But always check with your carrier to avoid surprises at the airport.
Ultimately, immigration agents at your destination are the concern. Even if airline staff miss your expiring passport, you risk being denied entry and deported.
Matt Chodakowski
To avoid any issues, your passport should be valid for at least six months when traveling by plane. So, unless your trip is an emergency, it’s best not to travel with a nearly-expired passport to a foreign country.
Near-Expiry Passport and Returning to the US
Now you know which countries will allow you to cross their borders with a passport valid for less than six months.
But—what about returning to America?
Let’s explore two scenarios.
US passport holders
Travel to the US on an expired passport was allowed until June 30, 2022. Now, however, all US citizens must have a valid passport to re-enter the country.
So—
If your return flight is after your passport’s expiration date, airport gate agents might deny you boarding. If they don’t, you’ll still likely get in trouble upon arrival in America.
Pro tip: If your passport expires abroad, contact the nearest US consulate or embassy to apply for an emergency travel document.
Otherwise, you can safely re-enter the US even if your passport expires in one day.
Foreign passport holders
Generally, all non-US citizens must have a passport valid for six months beyond their intended stay.
However, there’re exemptions.
According to the Carrier Liaison Program, some countries are exempt from the six-month passport validity rule. If you have a passport issued by one of these countries, your travel document must be valid for the duration of your trip.
Stacking It All Up
Although popular, the six-month passport validity rule isn’t universal.
Some countries, like Australia, Mexico, Canada, and Schengen countries, allow US passport holders to enter even if their documents expire in under six months.
As for airlines, they must follow official passport validity requirements set by governments. If the country you’re traveling to doesn’t require your passport to be valid for six months or more, the airline should allow you to board.
Still—
Carrying a valid passport, especially abroad, is crucial for your safety. So don’t wait until the last minute. Renew your passport as soon as possible (and let PhotoAiD® assist you.)
FAQ
How long is a passport valid after expiration?
Do all countries require six months of passport validity?
Can you fly internationally with less than six months on your passport?
What countries can I travel to with three months left on my passport?
Sources:
- https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2024-Feb/Six-Month%20Passport%20Exemption%20Update%2020240131_0.pdf
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/US_Travelers_in_Europes_Schengen_Area.html
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html
- https://mx.usembassy.gov/travel-to-the-united-states-on-expired-u-s-passports
Sylwia is a skilled writer with a BA in English Studies and an active SPJ member. For nearly three years now, she’s been writing captivating articles for international companies, turning her lifelong passion into a career.
