Free Tool · Instant result · No signup

Passport Validity Checker

Most countries require your passport to be valid for 6 months beyond your return date — not just your trip. Check before you book flights.

54 destinations covered6-month rule explainedAirlines check too
Important: Airlines check passport validity at check-in — not just immigration. If your passport doesn't meet a destination's requirements, you can be denied boarding even before you leave home.

Enter Your Trip Details

Fill in your passport expiry, destination, and travel dates to check validity.

The 6-Month Passport Rule Explained

What is it? Many countries — especially in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East — require your passport to remain valid for 6 months beyond your return date, not just your trip dates. So if you return on June 1, your passport must be valid until at least December 1.

Why does it exist? Governments want to ensure that if something goes wrong (medical emergency, extended stay, visa overstay), your passport doesn't expire while you're in the country. It also gives embassies time to process documentation if you need to be repatriated.

Who enforces it? Both airlines and border officials. Airlines check at check-in — if your passport doesn't meet the destination's requirements, they'll deny boarding and you'll lose your ticket. Immigration officers at the destination do a second check on arrival.

Which countries have the strictest rules? Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, India, China, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, UAE, South Africa (which also requires 2 blank pages), Kenya, and Tanzania all strictly enforce the 6-month rule.

EU/Schengen special case: Most Schengen countries require 3 months of validity after your planned departure from the Schengen Area — not 6 months. UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan generally require validity only for the duration of stay.

✈ Rule of thumb: Renew your passport if it has fewer than 12 months remaining before an international trip. This gives you full flexibility and covers the 6-month rule for any destination.

5 Common Passport Mistakes That Ruin Trips

  1. 1
    Thinking 'valid for my trip' means valid enough — Your passport might cover your 2-week stay but not the 6-month validity requirement. Check the destination's specific rule, not just your trip dates.
  2. 2
    Not checking blank pages — South Africa requires 2 blank visa pages — not just stamps, but fully blank. Some African countries require 1 blank page. A full stamp-covered passport will get you denied entry.
  3. 3
    Booking non-refundable tickets before renewing — Passport processing times are unpredictable. In busy periods, US passports can take 10–12 weeks. Book flexible tickets until you have the renewed passport in hand.
  4. 4
    Assuming your airline knows best — Airlines apply IATA TIMATIC rules, which sometimes differ from the actual embassy policy. When in doubt, call the destination country's embassy directly — TIMATIC errs conservative.
  5. 5
    Not checking rules for connecting countries — If your flight connects through a country (say, Abu Dhabi en route to Thailand), you may need to meet BOTH the UAE's and Thailand's validity requirements. Check every country you'll enter, including transit.