Short answer: Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after you arrive or leave. The Schengen area asks for three months after departure. Airlines check this and can refuse to fly you.
A passport that is still valid on the day you fly can still get you turned away at the check-in desk. That is because many countries set a minimum remaining validity.
The common rules
- Six months: many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your date of arrival or departure.
- Three months: the Schengen area in Europe requires it to be valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave, and to have been issued within the last 10 years.
- Valid for the stay: some countries only require validity for the length of your visit.
Rules are set by the country you are entering, and they can change. Check the official embassy or immigration website before booking.
Warning: Airlines are fined for carrying passengers who are refused entry, so check-in staff enforce these rules strictly, sometimes more strictly than the border itself.
Other things that can stop you
- Blank pages: many countries want one or two blank pages for stamps and visas.
- Damage: a torn data page, water damage or a detached cover can make a passport invalid.
- Visa validity: a visa can be valid while your passport is not, or the other way round. Both have to work for your dates.
Before you book
- Find your expiry date. Count forward from your return date, not your departure date.
- Check the destination's rule. Use the official embassy or immigration website, not a forum.
- Check transit countries too. Some countries have rules for passengers changing planes, even if you never leave the airport.
- Renew early if it is close. Renewal can take weeks. Leave yourself time before any visa application, since visas go into the passport.
Questions people ask
Q: My passport expires in five months. Can I travel?
A: To countries with a six-month rule, probably not. To countries that only require validity for your stay, yes. Check the specific destination.
Q: Does the six-month rule apply on the way home?
A: No. Your own country will let you back in on a valid passport. The rule applies to entering other countries.