# Passport question (U.S.) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question-u-s/547509 "2010-07-21T20:33:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question-u-s/547509/1 "2010-07-21T20:33:13Z")
Why does a U.S. passport have to be valid for six months after one’s return to the States? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question-u-s/547509/2 "2010-07-21T20:43:44Z")
It is a safety margin in case you are delayed from returning from a foreign country for whatever reason. They don’t want you stuck overseas with an expired passport or try to come back to the U.S. with one either. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question-u-s/547509/3 "2010-07-21T20:48:48Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Why does a U.S. passport have to be valid for six months after one’s return to the States? who says it does? not the US government. If it’s for foreign governments when you go there, then yes, it’s so there’s a bit of cushion so that they can be a little more sure you’ll be let back into the country you came from (I.e. you’re not going to stay there after your visa/entrance authorization expires) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question-u-s/547509/4 "2010-07-21T20:55:41Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > who says it does? not the US government. No, it’s the U.S. government. My coworker’s daughter is off to Europe again, and even though her passport will be valid for the entire trip, the Passport Office informed her that her passport must be valid for six months after her expected return date. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question-u-s/547509/5 "2010-07-21T21:02:09Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > No, it’s the U.S. government. > > My coworker’s daughter is off to Europe again, and even though her passport will be valid for the entire trip, the Passport Office informed her that her passport must be valid for six months after her expected return date. > [@](#): > > Q:How long is a passport valid and when should I renew my passport? > a:If you were over age 16 when your passport was issued, your passport is valid for 10 years. > > ``` > If you were age 15 or younger when your passport was issued, your passport is valid for 5 years. > > The Issue Date of your passport can be found on the data page of your Passport Book or on the front of your Passport Card. > > If possible, you should renew your passport approximately nine (9) months before it expires. Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six (6) months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met. > > If you passport has already expired, you may still be able to renew your passport by mail. See How to Renew Your U.S. Passport. > > ``` [http://travel.state.gov/passport/faq/faq\_1741.html](http://travel.state.gov/passport/faq/faq_1741.html) someone in this chain of communication is mistaken as to it being a US government entry requirement. it makes no sense otherwise - what, you can’t live abroad for 9 years and 7 months, and then fly home on a just-about-to-expire passport :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question-u-s/547509/6 "2010-07-21T21:20:42Z")
Maybe the passport office informed her of the other country’s/countries’ requirement. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question-u-s/547509/7 "2010-07-21T21:44:05Z")
A couple of years ago I made a last-minute business trip to the States knowing my passport would expire the day **after** I returned. I remember the customs guy telling me that it should be valid for some time after the trip, 6 months sounds about right, but he just let me go anyway. [Passport Canada](http://www.ppt.gc.ca/support/faq.aspx?lang=eng&id=1201) has this to say though: > [@](#): > > Frequently asked questions > Is my passport required to be valid for at least 6 months prior to the date of entry into the country I wish to visit? > > All countries have special entry requirements. Since these requirements are subject to change, you should consult the nearest diplomatic mission of the country you intend to visit. ETA: I had no problems getting into or out of the U.S. but did get some raised eyebrows and questions. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question-u-s/547509/8 "2010-07-21T22:44:55Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > No, it’s the U.S. government. > > My coworker’s daughter is off to Europe again, and even though her passport will be valid for the entire trip, the Passport Office informed her that her passport must be valid for six months after her expected return date. It is most likely that the Passport Office was clumsily advising her of the requirements in the country she was visiting. It is very common for a foreign country to require a passport to be valid for 6 months when entering a foreign country. No U.S. official ever sees your passport until you return back home\*, so clearly the U.S. government cannot enforce such a thing. \*Except TSA but that’s for identifcation at the security checkpoint; they are not checking for when it is going to expire ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question-u-s/547509/9 "2010-07-22T01:05:02Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > A couple of years ago I made a last-minute business trip to the States knowing my passport would expire the day **after** I returned. I remember the customs guy telling me that it should be valid for some time after the trip, 6 months sounds about right, but he just let me go anyway. > > [Passport Canada](http://www.ppt.gc.ca/support/faq.aspx?lang=eng&id=1201) has this to say though: > > ETA: I had no problems getting into or out of the U.S. but did get some raised eyebrows and questions. That’s because too many people who should know about the [list of countries with which the U.S. has reciprocal agreements to assume a six-month passport validity extension](http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/104770.pdf)…don’t know what they’re talking about. Canada is one of the countries on the list. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-question-u-s/547509/10 "2010-07-23T02:36:22Z")
This reminds me of a story. A childhood friend of mine who had moved to Japan after college was back home visiting one Christmas season and we went out barhopping. Since he had lived abroad for some time, his only ID was his US passport. At the third or forth bar we stopped at, the bouncer found that his passport was expired and denied entry. My buddy was dumbfounded …he had no idea his passport was expired and he had breezed right through US immigration at O’Hare several nights prior. We went to at least one other bar without trouble but my friend was super-worried about getting back out of the US and into Japan with a bad ID.