Fatcamera | E+ | Getty Images
Passport processing times are back to normal after big delays in 2023, making it less likely travelers will miss a trip because of a stalled renewal.
However, another common passport snafu threatens to upend your trip overseas — and it involves passports that haven’t yet expired but are close to doing so.
Many countries require that Americans have at least a few months of validity remaining on their U.S. passport in order to travel there, or to secure a visa to that country.
More from Personal Finance:
2024 is the ‘year of globetrotting.’ Here are some hot spots
New Europe travel requirement delayed again, to 2025
A controversial hack to save on airfare carries ‘super big risk’
For example, the Schengen Area, which encompasses 27 European nations, requires a U.S. passport be valid for at least 90 days beyond the end of your trip (i.e., your return date), according to the State Department.
Many countries in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions require at least six months of validity for permission to enter. Other areas like Hong Kong require one month.
What this means: Gatekeepers like border officials will deny travel if your passport doesn’t have a certain amount of validity remaining. Some airlines won’t even let you board the flight. In these cases, your nonexpired passport would cost you a vacation.
The requirement “trips a lot of people up,” said Charles Leocha, president and co-founder of Travelers United, a nonprofit advocacy group.
Don’t forget visas, too
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Christian Adams | The Image Bank | Getty Images
Here’s the reason for the rule: When traveling to Europe, for example, a valid U.S. passport allows tourists to stay for up to 90 days without a visa. Border officials “often assume you will stay the maximum 90 days, even if this is not your intention,” according to the State Department.
It’s important to remember that certain countries may require travelers to secure a separate visa for entry — typically at…
Read the full article here
