How Early Should You Renew Your Passport Before Traveling?

A passport can be perfectly valid today and still cause a problem on your trip. Many countries do not look at today's date. They look at how long the passport will stay valid after you arrive or after you leave. And a renewal is never instant, so the question is not only "is it valid?" but also "when do I have to start?".

Two questions, not one

1. Will my passport be valid long enough for this trip? That is decided by the rule of the country you travel to.
2. If not, when do I have to start renewing, so that the new passport is in your hands before you leave?

The calculator below answers both with your own dates.

The rules you may meet

Rules differ by country and they change, so treat this as a map of what to look for, not as the rule for your destination:

• Some countries only ask that the passport is valid for the length of your stay.
• Many ask for extra validity beyond your stay. Three or six months are common, and other periods exist.
• Schengen countries generally ask for at least three months of validity beyond your planned departure, and for a passport that was issued within the previous ten years.
• Some countries also ask for blank pages.
• The rule can count from the day you arrive or from the day you leave. This makes a difference of the length of your stay, so check which one applies.

The reliable source is the official website of the country you travel to, or its embassy. Airlines also check your documents at the gate, so look at their travel requirements too.

How long does a renewal take?

Processing times vary by country and by season, and they are usually longer before summer and winter holidays. You may also wait for an appointment, and you need photos and supporting documents. A child's passport is often valid for fewer years than an adult's, so it tends to come up for renewal sooner.

Look up the current processing time on the website of your passport authority, then add a margin. The calculator adds two weeks.

Try it with your dates

If the answer is "too late"

• Ask your passport authority whether a faster service is available. Some offer one for an extra fee.
• Check whether the dates of the trip can move.
• Avoid booking anything that cannot be refunded until the passport question is settled.
• If you have a visa in your old passport, ask the issuing authority whether you must carry the old passport with the new one.

A passport checklist

• Check the expiry date of your passport today
• Find the entry rule on the official website of your destination
• Check from which day the validity is counted
• Check whether blank pages are required
• Look up the current processing time
• Put the "apply by" date in your calendar
• If a visa is in your old passport, ask what to do with it