FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - US Passport Expires within 6 Months - Time to Get a New One?
Old May 27, 2011, 2:16 am
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GUWonder
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Originally Posted by RobertS975
My US passport expires on 1/1/12... I have heard that many countries do not allow you to use a passport that is within 6 months of expiration. So is my passport essentially useless 6 months ahead of time?
What is allowed depends upon a combination of the following: (a) the country/countries on the trip where a foreign citizen will present herself/himself for entry using a foreign passport; and (b) the conditions and circumstances under which the foreign citizen's entry is attempted/occurring.

Reciprocal agreements between countries have something to do with what is generally applicable. However, even in the absence of such agreements between a person's country of citizenship and the relevant foreign country, it may be possible to enter even with less than 6 months before passport expiration date, depending upon the conditions and circumstances under which a foreign citizen's entry is attempted/occurring.

I've entered at least a dozen countries using US passports with an expiration date within 6 months of my date of arrival in such countries and not all of them have reciprocal agreements with the US specifying that travel is allowed within 6 months of passport expiration date. But, as I said, it depends on the country/countries on the trip where you will present yourself for entry using a foreign passport and the conditions and circumstances under which entry is attempted/occurring by the foreigner.

If you are unsure about what is applicable for your situation, consider asking the embassy/consulate of the country/countries where you will present yourself for entry. If not willing to do that, consider renewing the passport at some point that is more than 6 months before it's expiration date and would get you your renewal passport in time for the trip.

Last edited by GUWonder; May 27, 2011 at 2:32 am
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