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Information to the 6-month passport rule — what’s it?


It might sound trivial, however top-of-the-line guidelines you may observe as a global traveler is to recollect to examine your passport validity earlier than you ebook flights and accommodations.

Why? As a result of the necessities for entry differ from nation to nation. Within the midst of planning my 2024 journey, I noticed my U.S. passport expires in April, which might mess with my plans overseas.

Fortunately, I exploit a journey guidelines to keep away from disruptions to my journey itinerary.

I instantly began the passport renewal course of on-line and had my photograph taken at my native Walgreens — though you may DIY your passport photograph in the event you choose — so I might ship out my utility as shortly as attainable. I additionally opted to expedite the processing time for a further $60 charge and despatched my utility on its approach.

Should you’re additionally in the course of planning 2024 journey or just wish to know the best time to start on the brink of renew your passport, the TPG workforce has you coated.

We collected data from the U.S. Division of State web site and the UK’s authorities web site to create a one-stop cheat sheet analyzing a spread of countries that sometimes require you to have a passport that lasts longer than your journey — whether or not by one, three or six months.

Observe that sure nations deviate from the usual six-month requirement. These findings are additionally solely associated to passport validity dates — we’re not masking visa necessities right here. These can range relying on the place you are going and the place you are coming from.

Schengen nations in Europe

Many European nations are signers of the Schengen Settlement. Because of this, they observe the three+3 Rule, which means your passport have to be legitimate for 3 months past your three-month entry visa or for a complete of six months, whatever the period of your preliminary keep.

Whereas some Schengen nations solely require passports to be legitimate for 3 months past your supposed keep, others assume chances are you’ll keep the complete 90 days of your visa validity — thus the six-month time interval.

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The signers of the Schengen Settlement are Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Bulgaria and Romania will be a part of the group March 31, 2024.

SERGEY SHIK/SHUTTERSTOCK

The nations listed under abide by the standard six months of passport validity until in any other case famous.

Non-Schengen nations in Europe, Asia and the Center East

Abide by the standard 6 months of passport validity

  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Brunei
  • Cambodia
  • China
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Kuwait
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Laos
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Mongolia
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • New Caledonia
  • North Korea
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Singapore
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Thailand
  • East Timor
  • Turkmenistan
  • Turkey (British passports have to be legitimate for at the very least 150 days from the date you arrive within the nation)
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Vietnam
  • West Financial institution/Gaza Strip
  • Yemen

Passport have to be legitimate 3 months past the scheduled departure date

  • Albania
  • Belarus
  • Croatia
  • Kazakhstan

Passport have to be legitimate 1 month past the date of your supposed keep

Passport solely must be legitimate for the proposed period of your keep

Africa

Abide by the standard 6 months of passport validity

  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Cote d’Ivoire
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Djibouti
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Egypt
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • Kenya
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mauritania
  • Morocco (British passports have to be legitimate for at the very least three months on the date of entry)
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Rwanda
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Somalia
  • South Africa (passports should even have 30 days past your supposed date of exit from the nation)
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Zambia

Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean

Abide by the standard 6 months of passport validity

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Dominican Republic
  • Grenada
  • Guadeloupe
  • Haiti
  • Martinique
  • St. Barts
  • St. Kitts
  • Trinidad and Tobago

Passport solely must be legitimate for the proposed period of your keep

  • Aruba
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Canada
  • Curacao
  • Jamaica
  • Mexico
  • St. Lucia

Central and South America

Abide by the standard 6 months of passport validity

  • Belize
  • Bolivia
  • Chile
  • Costa Rica
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Guatemala
  • Guyana
  • Honduras
  • Nicaragua
  • Suriname
  • Venezuela

Passport have to be legitimate 3 months past arrival

Passport solely must be legitimate for the proposed period of your keep

  • Brazil (British passports have to be legitimate six months past arrival)

South Pacific

Abide by the standard 6 months of passport validity

  • American Samoa
  • Fiji
  • French Polynesia
  • Kiribati
  • Marshall Islands
  • Palau
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Samoa
  • Tonga
  • Tuvalu
  • Vanuatu

Passport have to be legitimate 3 months past arrival

Passport solely must be legitimate for the proposed period of your keep

Backside line

When analyzing the principles, be aware that some nations have a slight distinction: They could require validity to be both six months from the date of entry or six months from the date of supposed departure. For simplicity, we have taken the conservative method and assumed that for any nation with a six-month rule, like many of the ones above, it is best to guarantee your passport is legitimate six months previous the date of supposed departure simply in case.

In fact, the checklist above solely consists of only a few well-liked locations worldwide. In case your supposed vacation spot is not on the checklist, it is at all times greatest to examine together with your related passport issuer.

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