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Six-Month Validity Update
Update April 12, 2024
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Find the answers to your questions in one of these categories:
General Questions
Children (under 16), social security number requirement, u.s. passport card, 1. i'm renewing my passport. do i get the old one back will i get a new passport number.
Yes. In most cases when you renew by mail, we will return the old passport to you. The old passport may not arrive for up to 8 weeks after you receive your new passport.
If your old passport has a valid visa, you can still use the valid visa. You must travel with both your new and old passport in this case.
The number on your new passport will be different from the number on your previous passport.
If you have Global Entry, update your Trusted Traveler account with your new passport information.
2. My address changed. Do I need to update my passport?
Do not contact us if your address changed after you receive your passport.
Contact us only if your mailing address changed while you are waiting for your passport.
Call us at 1-877-487-2778 (or 1-888-874-7793 if you are deaf or hard of hearing)
3. I already applied and need my passport sooner than I thought. What can I do?
Call us at 1-877-487-2778 (or 1-888-874-7793 if you are deaf or hard of hearing). You’ll need either your application number or your last name and date of birth.
- Get expedited service for $60.
- Get 1-2 day delivery of your completed passport book for $19.53. One-to-two day delivery is not available for passport cards. We only send cards via First Class Mail.
4. Do I need 6 months of validity on my passport to travel?
If you are age 16 or older, your passport is valid for 10 years. Your child's passport (age 0-15) is valid for 5 years.
Some countries require that your passport have at least six months of validity beyond the dates of your trip . Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met.
Check our Country Information page to learn how long your passport needs to be valid.
To learn about returning to the United States after your travel, visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's website .
5. How long does it take to get a passport?
Go to our Processing Times page for more information.
6. How will you send my passport and supporting documents?
You will get multiple mailings. The number of mailings depends on what document(s) you asked for.
Passport Book : You may get your new passport and citizenship documents in two mailings. You may wait 8 weeks after getting your passport before you get a second mailing with your citizenship documents. We will return the passport book using a trackable delivery service.
Passport Card : You may get your new passport card and your citizenship documents in two mailings. You may wait 8 weeks after getting your passport before you get a second mailing with your citizenship documents. We only send the passport card via First Class Mail. We do not send cards using 1-2 day delivery services.
Both a Passport Book and Card : You may get three separate mailings:
- New passport book
- New passport card
- Citizenship documents
Contacting Us : If you have been waiting more than 8 weeks for your citizenship documents, call us at 1-877-487-2778 .
7. I am recently married or divorced. How do I change my name on my passport?
For more information, go to our Change or Correct a Passport page .
If you are changing your name within one year of the date your passport was issued, complete Form DS-5504 .
If you are changing your name over a year after your passport was issued, complete Form DS-82 .
8. I am traveling very soon. How do I get a passport quickly?
Go to our Get My Passport Fast page for information on expediting your application, or making an appointment at a passport agency or center.
If you have a life-or-death emergency, go to our Life-or-Death Emergency page to see if you qualify for an appointment.
9. How much does a U.S. passport cost?
The cost of your passport depends on how fast you need it, and if you want a passport book, passport card, or both documents.
Go to our Passport Fees page for more information on how much to pay, and what forms of payment we accept.
10. How do I get the status of my application?
Enroll in emails using the Online Passport Status System . Learn about what each update means on our Application Status webpage .
11. My passport has already been issued and mailed to me, but I have not received it. What do I do?
If you have waited over two weeks since we mailed your passport, call us at 1-877-487-2778 (or 1-888-874-7793 if you are deaf or hard of hearing).
We will help you complete a special form (known as the DS-86 form ) which is a signed statement that you didn't receive your U.S. passport.
You must complete the DS-86 form within 90 days of the date we issued your passport. After 90 days, you must reapply and pay all fees, by law.
12. My passport has been damaged. Can I continue to use this passport?
If your passport is damaged, apply for a new passport. Replace your passport if there is:
- Water damage
- A significant tear
- Unofficial markings on the data page
- Missing visa pages (torn out)
- A hole punch
Do not replace your passport if there is normal "wear and tear" which includes:
- The bend of a passport after being carried in your back pocket
- Fanning of the visa pages after lots of opening and closing
If you need to replace your damaged passport, submit:
- The damaged passport;
- A signed statement explaining the damaged or mutilated condition of your passport book and/or card;
- Form DS-11 (including supporting documents, photo, and fees)
13. How many blank visa pages do I need, and can I add pages to my passport book?
Some countries require that your passport has two to four blank visa or stamp pages. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met.
You cannot add visa pages to a current passport book. If you need more pages, you must renew your passport book.
On your passport form, select the option for a "large book" so you can get a passport book with extra visa pages.
14. Can I use a passport to fly in the United States?
Yes. The U.S. passport book and passport card are alternatives to a state-issued REAL ID and can be used for domestic flights.
According to the Department for Homeland Security , residents of all states will soon have to use a Real ID compliant ID for domestic air travel. Not sure if your state’s driver’s license and ID are Real ID compliant? Check your state’s status . For a complete list of acceptable forms of identification to fly in the United States, visit REAL ID .
15. Can I get a second passport book?
Yes, but only if you have a valid U.S. passport book and you meet several requirements. Learn more to see if you are eligible .
16. I got a letter in the mail or an email about my application. What should I do?
We sent you a letter or email because we need more information from you to continue processing your passport. Go to our Respond to a Letter or Email page for more information.
17. Who should have a valid U.S. passport?
You should have a U.S. passport if:
- You have family living or traveling abroad,
- You are thinking about a vacation abroad, or
- You have a job that could require international travel.
18. My new passport book has a QR code sticker on the back. What is it for?
These stickers give you easy access to important passport and travel information on our website.
- If you scan the code using your mobile device, it will link you to our website. If you do not wish to scan the code, you can also access the information on our After I Get My Passport page .
- Is the same on all passport books
- Does not have personally identifiable information, and
- Does not change the way border officials and airlines review your document.
- We are not placing QR code stickers on passport cards.
- You may remove the sticker. We recommend keeping it on so you have quick and easy access to our website.
2. What should I do if one parent or guardian cannot apply in person?
- Both parents or guardians must approve that we can issue a passport to a child, and go with the child to apply in person.
- If one or both parents or guardians cannot apply in person with their child, you will need to show more documents.
Important : Submit Form DS-3053 and other notarized statements within three months of signing them.
3. Can I renew my child's passport?
No. You cannot renew your child's passport using Form DS-82. If your child is under age 16 , your child must appear in person with you and the child's other parent or guardian. You must submit your child's Form DS-11 at a passport acceptance facility, or a passport agency or center.
1. Do I have to provide my social security number on my passport application?
Yes. Federal law requires that you provide your social security number, if you have one.
If you do not provide the information, your passport application will be delayed and your application may be denied. You will also be subject to a $500 penalty enforced by the Internal Revenue Service. ( 26 U.S.C. 6039E ).
Contact the Social Security Administration for information about getting a social security number and card.
2. What if I or my children don’t have a social security number?
Submit a signed and dated statement. You must include the statement with the application, and include this text:
“I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the following is true and correct: I (or my child) have never been issued a social security number by the Social Security Administration.”
1. What is the passport card?
The U.S. passport card is a wallet-sized, plastic passport that has no visa pages. The card is proof of U.S. citizenship and identity, and has the same length of validity as the passport book.
The card is for U.S. citizens who travel by land and sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and Caribbean countries.
The card is not valid for international travel by air and is cheaper than the passport book.
You can apply for either the book or card, or both documents.
2. How do I apply for a passport card?
You can apply for both a passport book and passport card at the same time using the same application. When completing your form, let us know if you would like to apply for one or both documents.
If you're renewing both your passport book and passport card, you must provide both documents. If you can submit a passport book, but you lost your passport card, you cannot renew the passport card using Form DS-82.
3. Can I get a passport card if I already have a passport book?
Yes. If you already have a passport book and you are eligible to use Form DS-82, you may apply for a passport card by mail as a "renewal" even if it is your first passport card.
You can do the same and apply for your first passport book by mail as a "renewal" if you already have a passport card.
Make An Appointment at a Passport Agency or Center
We have two types of appointments: Life-or-Death Emergency Service and Urgent Travel Service . You cannot walk-in.
Not Yet Applied : Make an appointment online
Already Applied : Call 1-877-487-2778 . Se habla español.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call 1-888-874-7793 for TDD/TTY teletype services.
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The Six Month Validity Rule for U.S. Passports
Home » Passports » How to Obtain a U.S. Passport
Many countries now require international visitors to have a specific amount of validity remaining on their passports before allowing entry or issuing a visa. Some require as little as 3 months validity , but 6 months has increasingly become the norm. Should you try to board a plane, train, boat, or cross a border with a passport that will expire within the validity window, you will be turned away.
As a result, you may never get to use the full ten years of your passport due to the long list of countries that require passports be valid for six months beyond the travel date for entry. It is kind of like purchasing a year-long gym membership and never getting to use the last few months before you have to renew.
Click for reliable expedited passport courier service .
The rule's origins are the subject of much speculation, but the six-month validity rule provides several key benefits for countries:
- Most countries offer six-month terms for many of their visas. Ensuring the passport will outlast the visa's expiration date helps avoid logistical hurdles both during and at the conclusion of a visitor's stay.
- It reduces the likelihood that unforeseen circumstances like illness or accident could delay your departure beyond the term of your visa.
- It allows countries to be sure that if they need to deport you, they are able to do so without delay as you will have enough passport validity to ensure you can cross borders without incident.
- It reduces the number of people renewing passports at overseas consulates - saving governments time and money.
- Early passport renewals are a way to generate additional funds.
When it comes to entry requirements, each country makes its own rules. As a result, there are certainly outliers. It is crucial to know what these requirements are for each country you plan to travel to and through on your journeys abroad. If you are unsure, you can always double check the information by directly contacting each country's embassy .
Some countries set the three month or six month validity rule from your entry date, some set it for your exit date, so it is important to know each country's rules. Having a passport that is valid five months and twenty-two days beyond your travel date will get you turned away at the boarding gate if six months is required - the rules are that strict.
There are some cases where multiple countries come together to provide a more unified set of entry requirements. For example, all of the European countries that are part of the Schengen Agreement require three months passport validity beyond travel dates.
Top 5 Questions About Expedited Passport Couriers
1. How can you get a passport when you're in a hurry? 2. What exactly does a passport expediter do? 3. Are passport expediting services legitimate? 4. How can I identify a reliable passport expeditor? 5. Is expedited passport service worth it?
You can also visit our library of articles about passport expediting .
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If you’re a procrastinator and your passport is set to expire, hopefully you don’t have an international trip planned within the next three months (at least). The U.S. Department of State is warning of massive delays in turnaround times both for issuing new — and renewing existing — passports.
U.S. passport renewal
Passport renewal applications can be done in person or by mail. Either way, the State Department suggests leaving at least three months (or more) between the time you submit your passport application and the day you receive the actual passport.
Current posted processing timelines are as follows:
Routine processing: Six to eight weeks.
Expedited processing: Two to three weeks.
Plus, that doesn’t even account for time to put together your application. Though not as onerous as first-time passport applications, you’ll still need to put in effort to gather some materials, such as a photograph from the last six months.
Applying for a U.S. passport for the first time
Children under age 16, first-time applicants and applicants who had their passport lost or stolen must apply in person — no mail-only option is allowed. Budget time to get an appointment at a local acceptance facility, which is typically a post office, library or city clerk's office.
Appointments are required at some, but not all, locations. Once you’ve applied at an acceptance facility, expect even lengthier processing times than what the renewal folks will experience.
If you need your passport sooner than the routine processing timeline noted in the previous section, you can pay $60 for expedited processing. But even still, the speedy version still takes several weeks.
And again, make time to gather your application materials, which includes evidence of U.S. citizenship for new passports. If you need time to track down your birth certificate from that dusty box in your parent’s garage, hopefully your international trip is even further than just a few weeks out.
» Learn more: 5 steps to take if you lose your passport
Your passport may need at least six months' validity remaining
Sometimes, even a valid passport that’s set to expire soon might be insufficient. Some countries require passports to be valid at least six months beyond your trip dates.
So even if your passport doesn’t expire until 2024, your late 2023 travel plans may be in jeopardy if your passport expires within six months of that trip. Some airlines won’t even let you board with a passport set to expire within that window. See which countries have such requirements via the State Department’s Country Information page .
What if you can’t wait that long to renew your passport?
With luck — and some extra money — you may be able to get your passport sooner. The State Department offers a few types of rush passport services:
Pay extra for expedited service by mail
For an additional $60, you can have your passport renewal processed on a shorter timeline. “Expedited” is a bit of a loose term here, and you’ll still need to plan for some turnaround time.
Additionally, the State Department recommends purchasing rush mail delivery, which costs an additional $18.32 for 1-2 day delivery of your completed passport.
Use this service if: You need your passport within the currently posted expedited processing timeline.
Claim a life-or-death emergency
Hopefully you don’t fall in this category, but if you have an eligible life-or-death emergency (eligible reasons include having an immediate family member outside of the U.S. who has died, is in hospice care, or has a life-threatening illness or injury) and you need to travel to a foreign country within three business days, you may qualify for an emergency, in-person appointment.
You’ll have to provide proof of the emergency, such as a death certificate or letter from the hospital, plus your airline ticket and passport application. From there, you’ll have to call the State Department’s Life-or-Death Emergency Service number to make an appointment.
There are only about two dozen locations nationwide offering such appointments, so you’ll likely need to make domestic travel plans just to get that rush passport.
And to make matters worse, you can’t make an appointment online. Due to the massive backlog, the State Department has actually disabled its online booking system. Bake in extra time to listen to on-hold music.
Use this service if: You need your passport within three business days and you have a valid emergency.
Hope for the best
You may also qualify for a rush passport if you have urgent international travel plans within two weeks but don’t have emergency proof.
Appointments are extremely limited though, and the State Department warns that there’s no guarantee you’ll get an appointment. Like the emergency process, you’ll have to call the same number (no online appointments either) and get your passport in person at one of those roughly two dozen locations nationwide.
Use this service if: You need your passport within three business days.
Why are passport processing times suddenly so slow?
Especially at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, passport processing times massively slowed. At one point, the State Department recommend leaving 18 weeks (that's more than four months) due to not just its own processing delays, but mail delays from the U.S. Postal Service.
In 2020, the State Department said processing times were roughly 12 weeks. But in the years following the initial shock of lockdowns, processing times got even higher — up to as many as 13 weeks. They have since started to level-off.
The State Department is chalking it all up to a record number of people applying for passports and renewals of existing ones. In fact, the State Department estimates that 2023 is on track to set the record for the highest demand of passports ever, far surpassing volumes seen during previous surges in demand in 2007 and 2017.
In some weeks during the winter of 2022 into 2023, the Department received more than 500,000 applications. Not only did that exceed projections, but it marked a record number for that time of year.
Renew your U.S. passport now
With most borders open now and far fewer COVID-19 restrictions, international travel might be one of your top-of-mind vacation plans. But here’s something you never want on your mind: stressing over a rushed passport.
Beyond just the agony, rush passports can be expensive given the fees for expedited service, the cost of faster shipping and the potential extra trip to visit one of the few emergency passport centers.
Check now to see when your passport expires. If it’s anytime in the next year or so, start the application process now. There are enough reasons that travel is stressful, complicated and expensive already. Don't let an expired passport be one of them.
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A Complete Guide to the Six-Month Passport-Validity Rule
Most travelers know they need a passport to travel internationally, but few are aware that, in many instances, your passport must be valid longer than your stay. In fact, many countries require it to be valid for six months beyond your intended return date. If it expires before that, you may be denied boarding or entry upon arrival at your destination and have to go straight home. To be safe, verify that your passport is valid for at least six months after your intended return date — if the expiration date is uncomfortably close to the cutoff, make sure you renew it way ahead of time. Unfortunately, this is something airlines will rarely mention, even when you're booking, so consider yourself warned.
Below, we've done the heavy lifting and created a cheat sheet based on information from the US Department of State website to help you make sense of which countries require you to have a passport that lasts longer than your trip, whether it's one, three or six more months. Note that certain countries, marked with an asterisk, deviate from the standard six-month requirement. These lists are also only related to passport-validity dates — we're not getting into visa requirements, which vary depending on where you're going and where you're coming from.
Schengen Treaty Signers in Europe
Many European countries are signers of the Schengen Treaty and as a result, follow the 3+3 Rule, meaning your passport must be valid three months beyond your three-month entry visa, or, for a total of six months regardless of how long your initial stay is. Note that while some Schengen members only require passports to be valid three months beyond your intended stay, others assume you may stay the full 90 days of your visa validity and thus, the six-month time period.
Schengen Treaty signers include: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The remaining countries listed below abide by the usual six months of passport validity unless otherwise noted.
Non-Schengen Europe, Asia and the Middle East
Note that while the UK and Ireland are both EU member states, they are not part of the Schengen arrangement and do not require an additional six-month validity period beyond your stay, though it is recommended.
Albania*, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus*, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Croatia*, Hong Kong**, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan*, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau**, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore , Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, East Timor, Turkmenistan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, West Bank/Gaza Strip and Yemen.
*Passport must be valid three months beyond scheduled departure date.
**Passport must be valid one month beyond the date of your intended stay.
Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
North America and the Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, St. Barthelemy, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Panama*.
*Passport must be valid three months beyond arrival .
South America
Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela.
South Pacific
French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Zealand*, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
*Passport must be valid one month beyond planned departure .
Bottom Line
Some countries have a slight distinction in that they may require validity to be either six months from the date of entry or six months from date of intended departure . For simplicity, we've taken the conservative approach and assumed that for any country with a six-month rule, like most of the ones above, you should make sure your passport is valid six months past the date of intended departure just in case.
If the country you're traveling to isn't listed above, note that it likely doesn't require anything other than your passport simply being valid throughout your intended stay — double-check with the US State Department website and if you're cutting it close, consider renewing it well in advance to avoid any issues during your trip. For renewal and other passport and visa services, TPG recommends using Allied Passport.
Have you experienced problems with the passport-validity rule? How did you solve your issue? Tell us about it, below.
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