Passport Expiry Rules

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Expired Passport Rules

Is your passport expiring soon? Learn what you can and can't do with an expired passport.

Passport Expiry FAQs

Passport Card Icon

How long past expiry does your passport need to be valid until for you to travel on it?

The length of time that your passport needs to be valid until for you to travel on it will differ depending on your citizenship and the country that you're flying to.

Usually, the maximum amount of time that a country will require your passport to be valid for will be at least six months. In other cases, it might be necessary for your passport to be valid for 28 days or one month past your date of exit. And, sometimes, your passport will only need to be valid for the length of your stay.

It's best to check with the governing body of the country that your passport is issued from to see what the restrictions are.


When does my passport expire?

Generally, a passport will expire 5 or 10 years past the date that it was issued, but this will differ depending on the country of the passport. The expiry date of your passport will be written inside your passport, along with the date that it was issued, so you can check the date it is valid until yourself.

Take a look at our table which shows the expiration period for each country.


Can you book a flight with an expired passport?

Yes, you can book a flight with an expired passport, but only because a passport isn't actually required to book a flight, regardless of whether it's valid or invalid. The vast majority of airlines will only ask for your passport when you come to check-in for your flight, in which case, an expired passport is not valid for check-in.


Can I travel with an expired passport on international flights?

On international flights, you cannot travel on an expired passport. Depending on the country of the passport you're travelling on and the destination that you're travelling to, your passport might need to be valid for up to at least six months past your date of travel. Please bear in mind that you'll be refused entry into the country if your passport isn't valid.


Can I travel with an expired passport on domestic flights?

No, an expired passport isn't a form of valid identification for domestic flights. Although — unlike international flights — a passport isn't essential for domestic travel, airlines do require you to present an in-date form of photo identification (such as a valid passport, drivers license or a form of photo ID distributed by an educational body).


Can I travel with an expired passport back to my country?

No, you can't travel back to your country on an expired passport if your passport expires while you're away. In fact, if your passport is due to expire before the return flight to your country, you won't be allowed to enter the country that you're visiting in the first place. To gain entry to a country, at the very minimum, your passport must be valid for the length of your stay.

Before flying please ensure to check that your passport is valid for the time period you're away on holiday.


What should I do if I realise my passport is expired at the last minute?

If you realise your passport has expired and you're supposed to go away soon, you should contact the authority that is in charge of issuing passports in your country. As long as the date of travel isn't too close, they might be able to arrange an emergency passport to be issued to you before you go away.


Will TSA accept an expired passport?

No, TSA will not accept an expired passport for a flight. For international travel, a valid passport is essential. For domestic flights, a valid passport isn't essential, but you must have some form of valid photo identification that hasn't expired.


How should I dispose of an expired passport?

We don't recommend disposing of your old passport, especially if you have a valid visa's inside of it. An old passport can still hold some value as it acts as evidence that you're a citizen of that country. If you do keep your passport, you should keep it in a safe place.

If you do decide to dispose of your passport, it's a good idea to shred or burn it, to protect it from fraudsters.


Can an expired passport be renewed?

Yes, expired passports can be renewed. It's essential that you renew your passport to ensure that it's valid if you're travelling on an international flight to another country. Passport renewals can be done at any time - please note that when travelling to some countries your passport must be valid at least 6 months before the passport expiration date.


How to renew an expired passport?

To renew an expired passport, you must fill out an application and send it to the authorities that issue passports in the country that you're applying for. In most countries, you'll need to pay for the renewal of your passport.


Can an expired passport be used for i-9?

Yes, both a valid and expired passport can be used for a 1-9 form.


What is a passport expiry date?

A passport expiration date tells you the date your passport is no longer valid. Once your passport runs out of date, you cannot use it as valid identification. During the time of validity, you can use your passport as a form of identification for travel.


Is an expired passport proof of citizenship?

Yes, an expired passport is proof of citizenship and most countries will recognise a passport as proof of citizenship, even if it has expired. In most cases, you'll need to show your old passport as a form of identification in order to renew your passport.


Are expired passports valid id?

Whether an expired passport can be used as valid ID depends on which country the passport is from and what the purpose is.

For example, an expired passport cannot be used as valid ID if a proof is age is required. This includes using it for things such as buying alcohol or gambling.

On the other hand, an expired passport is a valid ID for proving citizenship.

Passport Expiry Date by Country

Take a look at our table below which shows how many years after the date issue that the passport expires for each country.

Africa

Algeria

10 years

Beninese

6 years

Egypt

7 years

Eritrean

5 years

Ethiopia

5 years

Ghana

10 years

Kenya

10 years

Libya

10 years

Morocco

5 years

Namibia

5 years

Senegal

5 years

South Africa

10 years

Sudan

5 years

Tanzania

10 years

Togolese

5 years

Tunisia

5 years

Uganda

10 years

Asia

Afghanistan

5 years

Armenia

10 years

Azerbaijan

10 years

Bahrain

10 years

Bangladesh

10 years

Brunei

5 years

Cambodia

10 years

China

10 years

Cyprus

10 years

Hong Kong

10 years

India

10 years

Indonesia

5 years

Iran

5 years

Iraq

8 years

Israel

5 or 10 years

Japan

5 or 10 years

Kazakhstan

10 years

Kuiwait

5 or 10 years

Laos

10 years

Lebanon

5 or 10 years

Macao

10 years

Malaysia

5 years

Maldives

5 years

Nepal

10 years

Pakistan

5 or 10 years

The Philippines

10 years

Saudi Arabia

10 years

Singapore

5 years

South Korea

10 years

Sri Lanka

10 years

Taiwan

5 or 10 years

Tunisia

5 years

Thailand

5 years

Turkey

10 years

Vietnam

10 years

Yemeni

6 years

North & Central America

Anguilla

10 years

Antigua & Barbuda

10 years

Barbados

10 years

Canada

5 or 10 years

Cayman Islands

10 years

Costa Rica

6 years

Cuba

6 years

Dominican Republic

6 or 10 years

Grenada

5 years

Jamaica

5 or 10 years

Mexico

1 3, 6 or 10 years

Panama

5 years

St.Kitts and Nevis

10 years

Trinidad & Tobago

10 years

USA

10 years

Europe

Albania

10 years

Andorra

10 years

Austria

10 years

Belarus

10 years

Belgium

10 years

Bulgaria

5 or 10 years

Croatia

6 or 10 years

Czech Republic

10 years

Cyprus

10 years

Denmark

10 years

Estonia

10 years

Finland

5 years

France

5 years

Germany

10 years

Greece

5 years

Guernsey

10 years

Hungary

10 years

Iceland

10 years

Ireland

10 years

Italy

10 years

Latvia

10 years

Liechenstein

10 years

Lithuania

10 years

Luxembourg

5 years

Malta

10 years

Moldova

10 years

Netherlands

10 years

North Macedonia

10 years

Norway

10 years

Poland

10 years

Portugal

5 years

Romania

10 years

Russia

10 years

Serbia

10 years

Slovakia

10 years

Spain

10 years

Switzerland

10 years

Ukraine

10 years

Oceania

Australia

10 years

New Zealand

10 years

Papua New Guinea

5 years

Tonga

10 years

Tuvaluan

5 years

South America

Argentina

10 years

Brazil

10 years

Chile

5 years

Colombia

10 years

Ecuador

6 years

Costa Rica

6 years

Guyana

5 years

Peru

2 or 5 years

Uruguay

10 years

Venezuela

5 years

Other useful guides

If you have questions about passport expiry rules, you might also be interested in our following guides:

Mobile passport control - what is it and how can I use my mobile passport?

Do you need a passport to board your flight?

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