Overlooking this one important detail could derail your next trip
This Passport Mistake Could Ruin Your Next Vacation
Published on Jan. 03, 2025
For every international traveler, getting a passport is a rite of passage. Seeing your name and photo proudly printed inside, feeling the smooth passport cover and flipping through pages just waiting for stamps from around the world is exciting, to say the least. However, if you’ve had your passport for a while, it can easily end up in the back of your drawer, patiently awaiting your next international adventure.
If this sounds familiar, keep reading to find out the passport mistake that you’ll want to avoid to make sure your next trip goes smoothly. And no, it’s not checking to make sure your passport won’t expire before your trip. That’s a rookie mistake, and it’s easier than ever to rectify now that you can renew your passport online.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more travel tips, tech, humor, cleaning and fun facts all week long.
What’s the mistake?
The biggest mistake you can make when traveling internationally is forgetting to ensure that your passport’s expiration date is at least six months out from your travel dates. Even seasoned travelers can overlook this essential detail!
Why is this a mistake?
The reason you need to check your passport to see how long it’s valid is twofold. For starters, as you likely know, you can’t travel out of the country with an expired passport. Secondly—and perhaps more surprisingly—there are a number of countries around the world that won’t let you in if your passport is within six months of expiring.
Some countries are so strict that if your passport isn’t valid for at least another six months, your trip will end before it even begins. “They don’t care if it’s your wedding. They don’t care if it’s your birthday. They don’t care if it’s your dream family vacation,” says TikTok user @itsyanachka, who is also a flight attendant, said in a recent video. “They will not let you in.”
@itsyanachka Did you know this common daily mistake people make to be denied boarding their dream vacation? Some countries have specific passport requirements will NOT let you in🥲 If you’re traveling internationally make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months and has at least 4 blank pages meaning they are NOT stamped so you can get back home! Did you know about this passport requirement? #traveltips #internationaltravel #HolidayTravel #internationalflightattendant #flightattendant ♬ original sound – Yana✈️Flight Attendant
Even if you’ve already paid for your ticket and made it through security, you can be denied boarding at your gate. Still have five months left on your passport? That won’t cut it for countries with this passport requirement.
What countries require you to have a passport that’ll be valid for at least six months before you travel?
While not all countries require travelers to have passports with more than six months of validity beyond the dates of their trip, many do. Some of the most popular travel destinations that require six months of validity on passports include:
- China
- Egypt
- India
- Indonesia
- Singapore
- Thailand
- The United Arab Emirates
- Turkey
There are also a number of countries that require you to have at least three months of passport validity before you travel, many of which are located in Europe. On this list are:
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Italy
- Spain
- Sweden
These lists are not exhaustive, and it’s important to check the passport requirements for your destination before traveling.
How can you renew your passport quickly?
A good rule of thumb is to check your passport expiration date well in advance of any international travel. Compare your passport’s expiration date with the passport requirements for visiting your intended destination. Never throw out an expired passport! Instead, if your passport is expired or expires soon, there are a couple of ways to renew it quickly.
- Fill out a standard renewal form and pay the $60 expedited fee for travel in less than six weeks.
- Make an appointment at a passport agency or center for travel if you’re traveling internationally within the next two to three weeks.
- For new applicants and children, fill out the standard check-box passport application and make an appointment to apply in person at an acceptance facility.
Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Department of State: “After You Get Your New Passport”
- @itsyanachka on TikTok
