These Countries Require Your Passport to Be Valid for 3 or 6 Months After You Actually Travel

With U.S. outbound international travel on the rise—according to Allianz Partners USA, summer travel to Europe is projected to rise by 10 percent in 2025—it’s more important than ever to double-check your travel documents. Before booking an international trip, it’s essential to check passport rules and expiration requirements—otherwise, you could be denied entry at your destination.

As Ravi Kumar, owner and global passports and visas advisor at A1 Passport & Visa in New York City, explains, “Most of our clients in such situations complain that the airlines did not inform them about the passport validity rules when purchasing the tickets, and the airlines say that their job is to sell tickets and not deal with the immigration requirements of destination countries.” In the end, the burden of due diligence falls on the traveler.

To get the most accurate, up-to-date information, check the immigration website of the country you’re visiting—it’s the best way to avoid any unexpected hiccups. Kumar explains that travelers who don’t meet entry requirements are often denied boarding at the airport. If an oversight happens and they slip through, he tells Travel + Leisure that the traveler “will be refused entry upon arrival at the destination country, where they will be forced to purchase a return ticket on the spot to their home country and sent back.”

When that happens, it’s more than just stressful—it can upend your entire trip and lead to unexpected expenses. “Due to these passport validity requirements, travelers often have to postpone or cancel their trips,” says Kumar.

If your passport is set to expire soon and you have an international trip on the horizon, don’t fret—there are a couple of ways to fast-track renewal. Kumar recommends booking an appointment at the nearest government passport agency, though availability can be limited and you must meet certain requirements. Another option is to use a third-party passport expediting service.

Countries That Require a Valid Passport at Time of Entry

Don’t let an expired passport ruin your travel plans: These countries require a valid passport upon arrival and for the duration of your stay. Keep in mind that some destinations may also have additional entry requirements, so it’s essential to check the latest guidelines before you go. For example, as of this year, the United Kingdom requires U.S. travelers to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival. In Japan, U.S. citizens can visit for up to 90 days without a visa, but they must show proof of an onward or return ticket upon entry.

• Anguilla
• Aruba
• Australia 
• The Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Canada
• Cayman Islands (British Overseas Territory)
• Colombia (though the U.S. Department of State recommends six months’ validity) 
• Costa Rica
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Japan 
• Mexico
• Montserrat
• Nicaragua
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Martin
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• United Kingdom 

Countries That Require at Least 3 Months of Passport Validity 

Planning a European getaway? Note that your passport must be valid for at least three months after your arrival—a requirement enforced by all 29 Schengen Area countries. Plus, beginning in late 2026, U.S. travelers will also need to obtain travel authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) before visiting most European countries, including the aforementioned Schengen nations, which we’ve listed below: 

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

Several other countries enforce the three-month passport rule, including:

• Albania
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Honduras
• Panama 
• Turks and Caicos
• New Zealand 

Countries That Require at Least 6 Months of Passport Validity

The following destinations have some of the strictest passport rules, requiring at least six months of validity beyond your arrival date. Because they’re less forgiving, they call for extra planning, so check your passport well in advance and renew if needed. 

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bhutan
• Botswana
• Brunei
• Cambodia
• China 
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• Fiji
• French Territories in the Pacific (including French Polynesia)
• Grenada
• India
• Indonesia
• Israel
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Kuwait
• Laos
• Madagascar
• Malaysia
• Mongolia
• Nepal
• Nigeria
• Oman
• Papua New Guinea
• Peru
• Philippines
• Qatar
• Rwanda
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• Sri Lanka
• Thailand
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkey
• Uganda
• United Arab Emirates
• Vietnam

The Bottom Line

Passport validity rules can vary by country and are subject to change. That’s why, as a general rule of thumb, it’s safest to have at least six months of validity on your passport before traveling outside the country.