I’m planning an overseas trip soon. My US passport expires about 4 months after I’m due to return. This looks as if it should be okay, but one friend (not always fully reliable in such matters) claims it really needs to be current for six months after a scheduled return. Is this:
(a) required
(b) recommended
© nonsense
In other words, can I get by with my current passport, or do I need to scramble around getting it renewed?
I cannot answer definitively, but I seem to recall that what your friend says is true, though it may depend on where you’re travelling.
I believe that The Netherlands requires your passport to be good for at least 6 months past your departure date. Other countries may have different requirements so you really should look into it.
Mind telling where you are going?
Ooooops… according to the Netherlands Embassy website your passport needs to expire no less than 3 months after your return home, not 6 months as earlier posted.
It certainly depends on where you’re planning to go, but 6 months’ validity is probably safest. I’d get a new passport.
My travel agency always sends me an email telling me that my passport has to be good 6 months past my return date every time I book a trip out of the country.
With things the way they are in the world today, I would get a new one before I left. IMHO.
This is from the US Dept of State website on travel
Some countries require that your U.S. passport be valid at least 6 months or longer beyond the dates of your trip. If your passport expires before the required validity, you will have to apply for a new one. Please check with the Embassy or nearest Consulate of the country that you plan to visit for their requirements.
The website is here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/americans1.html
Here is a website with all countries on it that will let you search by country for the entry requirements: http://www.abriggs.com/high_level/foreign_entry_requirements.php
Unfortunately, on that website when you ask for information on countries that start with “M” through “O” (I’m headed to New Zealand), you get sent the the list that gives “A” through “C”. I found the e-mail address for the NZ embassy, and have sent the inquiry to them.
Many thanks for the help.
By playing with the URLs i got to the NZ page: http://www.abriggs.com/visas/n/new_zealand_visa.php
Six months from the last day you plan on being in the country.
Thanks - I shoulda thought of that.
Looks like passports effectively expire well before their stated expiration date. I’ll be renewing mine.
Update:
I have received a response from the New Zealand embassy. They say there is no problem in using my current passport for my proposed travel.
I think I may renew it anyway.