FlyerTalk Forums - Passport validity requirement?

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- - Passport validity requirement? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan/1293260-passport-validity-requirement.html)

Is the information in this thread still correct?

An American friend is travelling to Japan (via Korea, in transit only, no entry) in late November for a six-day stay. His passport expires in early April, just over 5 months after his visit to Japan. OK?

I checked the Timatic resource linked above, which is on the Korean Air website. Since KE is the operating carrier, it looks like he's good to go.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread, as it provides some measure of reassurance. any updates / reconfirmations will be most appreciated.

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Originally Posted by MegatopLover (Post 19386669)

An American friend is travelling to Japan (via Korea, in transit only, no entry) in late November for a six-day stay. His passport expires in early April, just over 5 months after his visit to Japan. OK?

I can't speak to what Korea requires of transit passengers, but Japan will be no problem. I entered Japan on a US passport that had less than 2 week's validity, and I left 3 days before it expired. IIRC, Japan doesn't even require the passport to be valid for the allowed length of stay or even the stated intended length of stay - as long as it's valid on the day of arrival, you're okay (if it expired before you left, you'd have to get it renewed through the US embassy or consulate before you could leave).

Thanks. Online info now is consistent with the info posted a year ago in this thread.

The Timatic resource on KE's website indicates that we can transit through OR enter Korea with a valid passport (same terms as Japan, implying no minimum validity). So if the transit stop is long enough, we may be able to step in and step out of Korea to get some passport stamps.

Again - try using Timatic rather than asking people on FlyerTalk. Link. Much more efficacious and likely to be correct, and it allows one to enter citizenship or resident alien of ___, as well as origin, destination and via third country information. FT is a great source for suggestions, maybe not so much for hard data when one is dealing with things governmental or when passport and visa requirements may change at any time.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by MegatopLover (Post 19386669)

Thank you, folks.

I asked people on FlyerTalk because I wanted first-hand experiences, in addition to what I found on Timatic linked upthread (you will note that my post seeking FT experiences indicated I'd already checked Timatic). Of course, FT is a great place to find links to resources like Timatic. I'm grateful for the links. And FT is the perfect place to find a clarifying discussion of what the results mean, particularly in light of regular travellers' experience in other Asian countries that require 6 months' validity.

No worries, enjoy! I point out the disclaimer because our experiences may be germane, but if one of us got allowed in to Japan when we actually may be in violation of passport requirements, medications allowed in the US but not there, that of course does not mean another will be cut slack. I have personally seen persons detained at NRT, for example, who were found in violation of one thing or another for some hours in uncomfortable circumstances. Under the cultural codes, Japanese are prone to being sticklers.

It would be a pain in the shiri indeed to be detained for hour upon hour and then frog-marched to a departing flight with a new ticket one had to purchase on one's own dime.

Also, it's very easy to get a new passport issued at the U.S. Embassy. If you need it to travel right away, they'll issue it in a couple of hours. It's easier than renewing in the U.S.