When should you renew your passport? It may seem like a no-brainer: renew your passport when it expires. Unfortunately, it is more complex. Many countries require that you have a certain amount of months left on your passport before it expires. This means you may be denied entry, even if your passport has not expired.
If you have an international trip coming soon, keep reading.
Renew Your Passport Before it Expires
Because it generally takes 6-10 weeks to renew your passport with the State Department, you might assume that you should renew it at least three months before it expires. While it is not the worst idea to renew your passport three months before its expiry, one important thing to consider is the Six-Month Rule.
What is the Six-Month Rule? Many countries require foreign travelers to have a passport with at least six months of validity left on the passport before entering the country. The Six-Month rule is implemented to prevent a foreign traveler’s passport from expiring in a foreign country. If a traveler’s passport expires in a foreign land, they cannot get on a flight back home. It is a good safety net to have six or more months on your passport before it expires. You never know if you will have to extend a trip abroad, but your passport won’t allow you to.
What Countries Require the Six-Month Rule?
Some countries require the Six-Month Rule, while others require less. Check the U.S. Department of State website for information on the country you are visiting. You can find how many months of validity and how many pages in your passport book are needed for international stamps.
If traveling to any of the countries listed below, double-check your passport to see if you have six or more months of validity left on your passport. Make sure it is six months from the day you enter the country. If you need more validity, consider getting a passport renewal.
North America:
Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, French West Indies, Grenada,
Africa:
Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad
Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, SaoTome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia
South America:
Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Trinidad, and Tobago
Asia:
Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Oman. Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen
Oceana:
Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
What Countries Require Three Months of Validity?
Some countries do not require you to have six months on your passport before it expires. However, many countries require at least three months of validity.
Twenty-Six European countries are a part of the Schengen Agreement. While some Schengen countries only require passports to be valid for three months, others assume you’ll stay the full 90 days on your Visa. In this case, they want you to have the time left on your passport to match your Visa. Though it is not required, the State Departments recommends that you have a passport valid for six months before attempting to enter these countries.
Schengen countries 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.
Some other countries include Panama, New Zealand, Albania, Belarus, Croatia, and Kazakhstan,
How To Renew Your Passport
You can apply for a passport renewal at a Post office. For a passport renewal, you must apply using Form DS-82. The U.S. Department of State’s website provides an online form filler.
Once you fill out the form, print it and sign it.
Prepare Your Application Documents
- You need to find your old passport, as it will need to be sent in with your application.
- Include name change documents like a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or legal name change document.
- Calculate your fees. You can calculate your fees here. You must pay with a check or money order; it cannot be a business or third-party check. Write the check out to to the “U.S. Department of State.”
Take a Passport Photo
You must submit a passport photo that meets these requirements:
- Your photo must have been taken six months or less from the time you submit
- The dimensions of your passport photo must be in a 2” X2” format
- Print the photo in color, on glossy or matt paper
- You must take your photo in front of a plain, white, or off-white background
- Do not digitally alter the photo
You should also avoid obstructing your facial features, like wearing glasses. For more Tips, read our blog, Tips For a Great Passport Photo. We offer passport photo services at our office if you need them.
Sending in your Application
Put your documents in an envelope without folding or creasing them. Set the address to the location of your state.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Passport Renewed?
The U.S. Department of State usually takes anywhere from 6-10 weeks to get your back your passport renewed. However, The State Department offers expedited passport services to those who need them. They can expedite your passport to 3-6 weeks.
Can’t wait that long? Consider applying with a private courier, like The Passport Office. We are a trusted American Passport Agency with decades of experience with new passports, passport renewal, child passports, name change services, and more. We can get your passport in as fast as 3-5 days! Book an appointment for a passport renewal in Orlando for your expedited passport needs. We also accept walk-ins.
