We are all aware that a valid passport is required for entry into every country around the world. However, a lesser-known requirement is that in some countries, your passport must be valid for a specified number of months after your date of entry/departure. The necessary time is determined by each country independently and changes occasionally.
My travel agent always suggests checking your passports expiration when booking an international trip and a week before departure, as well. It is also important to check if you need a visa for entry into a country.
A complete list of countries and their expiration requirements can be found on the United States Department of Travel website.
My breakdown of requirements was updated on 3/14/2016. Please check either travel.state.gov or the country you are planning to visit’s embassy’s website for up to date information prior to your departure.
If a country is listed as only having requirements for a passport to be valid for the duration of the stay, it is still HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to ensure your passport is valid for at least six months after exiting the country!
North America
The United States and Canada do not enforce an expiration rule. You are able to travel to the USA and Canada with your passport up until it’s day of expiration.
If you are traveling from to Canada, as US citizen, you are able to do so with just a passport card.
Mexico requires passports to be valid for six months minimum.
Caribbean
Valid for length of stay
- The Bahamas
- Cuba
- Jamaica
Three months after stay:
- Dominican Republic
Six months after stay:
- French West Indies (Martinique, St. Martin St. Barthalemy)
Central/South America
Valid for duration of stay:
- Argentina
- Brazil (with Visa)
- Chile
- Colombia
Three-month expiration and proof of plans to exit country (return ticket/boat ticket to other country)
- Panama
Six-month expiration from date of arrival
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua (except if coming with a US passport- then it must be valid for the length of your stay)
- Venezuela
Six-month expiration and proof of plans to exit country (return ticket/boat ticket to other country)
- El Salvador
Europe
90 Days validity from date of exit:
- United Kingdom
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Czech Republic
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Asia & the Middle East
Six months’ validity from date of entry:
- Burma (Myanmar)
- China (including Hong Kong and Macau)
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Thailand
- United Arab Emirates
Six months’ validity from date of exit:
- Fiji
- Jordan
- Russia- with a visa
Six months’ validity from date of visa application:
- India
Passports must be valid for the intended period of stay:
- Armenia
- Japan
Africa
Duration of stay:
- Egypt
- Madagascar
- Morocco
Passport must be valid for at least 30 days after date of departure:
- South Africa
Six-months validity from date of entry:
- Kenya
- Mozambique
- Tanzania
Australia/New Zealand
For both Australia and New Zealand, passports must be valid at time of entry, however your home country also requires your passport to be valid upon your return home.
The US Department of Travel shares why passports should be valid for six months after you travel:
Other links:
VisaHQ- a website that allows you to check passport/visa requirements based on where you are traveling from/to
