The 6-month passport rule, explained
“Six months” isn’t one rule. Some countries count six months from the day you arrive, the Schengen area wants three months after you leave, and others only need your passport valid for the stay. Airlines check at check-in, so the strictest stop on your trip is the one that counts.
Checked against official sources Oct 30, 2026
The three kinds of rule
- Months after arrival (for example, 6 months): count from the day you land. Countries in our table with a 6-month rule: Brazil, China (mainland), Dominican Republic, India, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam.
- Months after departure (for example, the Schengen area’s 3 months): count from the day you leave the country or area. A long trip pushes the date out.
- Valid for your stay: the passport just has to be valid until you leave.
Some countries add more: the Schengen area also requires a passport issued within the last 10 years, and some countries ask for blank pages.
Country by country (U.S. passports)
| Destination | Passport must be valid | Also |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | For your whole stay | — |
| Brazil | 6 months after you arrive | — |
| Canada | For your whole stay | — |
| China (mainland) | 6 months after you arrive | Blank pages: 2 blank pages (GOV.UK advice) |
| Costa Rica | For your whole stay | — |
| Cyprus | 3 months after you leave | Issued within 10 years; Blank pages: 1 |
| Dominican Republic | For your whole stay | — |
| India | 6 months after you arrive | Blank pages: at least 2 |
| Ireland | For your whole stay | Blank pages: 1 |
| Israel | 3 months after you arrive | — |
| Japan | For your whole stay | Blank pages: 1 (GOV.UK advice) |
| Mexico | For your whole stay | — |
| New Zealand | 3 months after you leave | — |
| Schengen area | 3 months after you leave | Issued within 10 years |
| Singapore | 6 months after you arrive | — |
| South Korea | For your whole stay | — |
| Thailand | 6 months after you arrive | Blank pages: 1 (GOV.UK advice) |
| Türkiye | 150 days after you arrive | Blank pages: 1 (GOV.UK advice) |
| United Arab Emirates | 6 months after you arrive | — |
| United Kingdom | For your whole stay | — |
| United States | For your whole stay | — |
| Vietnam | 6 months after you arrive | Blank pages: 2 (GOV.UK advice) |
Other passports can have different rules: each country page lists them. The trip check works out the exact date your passport must still be valid on, for every stop of your route.
How to count it
- Find the strictest rule on your route, including countries you only connect through if you will pass passport control.
- Add the months to the right date: arrival date for “after arrival”, the day you leave for “after departure”.
- Your passport’s expiry date must be on or after that date. If it’s close, renew first: airlines can refuse boarding even if the border would have let you in.
Renewing takes time. U.S. citizens should check the current processing times on the State Department’s passport pages before booking.
Official sources
- Australia travel advice: Entry requirements (GOV.UK) - passport ·
To enter Australia, your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Travel advice and advisories for Australia (Government of Canada) - passport ·
Your passport must be valid on the day of entry into the country.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) - linked passport ·
If this passport expires or you get a new passport, your ETA will cease and you must apply for a new ETA.
· checked 2026-10-29 - GOV.UK FCDO – Brazil entry requirements (updated 28 October 2026) ·
To enter Brazil, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
· checked 2026-10-29 - travel.gc.ca – Brazil travel advice (last updated 26 October 2026) ·
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay in Brazil.
· checked 2026-10-29 - GOV.UK FCDO – Canada entry requirements (updated 2 June 2026) ·
To enter Canada, your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay.
· checked 2026-10-29 - IRCC – eTA: who can apply / facts (page details date 2024-04-23; read via WebFetch) ·
It is valid for up to five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
· checked 2026-10-29 - China travel advice: Entry requirements | GOV.UK ·
To enter China, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and 2 blank pages for visas and stamping.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Travel advice and advisories for China | travel.gc.ca ·
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months upon entry into China.
· checked 2026-10-29 - GOV.UK FCDO – Costa Rica entry requirements (updated 19 May 2026) ·
Your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 1 day after the day you plan to leave Costa Rica.
· checked 2026-10-29 - travel.gc.ca – Costa Rica travel advice (last updated 14 October 2026) ·
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT) – Entry requirements ·
Passports and travel documents will only be accepted if they can be read electronically in line with the guidelines established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
· checked 2026-10-29 - DGME Directrices Generales de Visas DG-55-03-2023 (Procuraduría General database; marked no longer in force – superseded) ·
VIGENCIA MÍNIMA DE PASAPORTE: HASTA UN DÍA
· checked 2026-10-29 - Entry requirements - Cyprus travel advice - GOV.UK (updated 14 August 2026) ·
an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue)
· checked 2026-10-29 - Visas - Gov.cy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) ·
(a) its validity shall extend at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of Cyprus (b) it shall contain at least two blank pages; (c) it shall have been issued within the previous 10 years.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Travel advice and advisories for Cyprus - travel.gc.ca (last updated 11 August 2026) ·
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave from Cyprus.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) – Entry requirements (read via WebFetch; no date shown) ·
Passport with a minimum validity of six (6) months.
· checked 2026-10-29 - GOV.UK FCDO – Dominican Republic entry requirements (updated 7 August 2026) ·
Up until 31 December 2026, British passport holders can enter and leave the Dominican Republic for tourism purposes, as long as their passport remains valid for the duration of their visit.
· checked 2026-10-29 - travel.gc.ca – Dominican Republic travel advice (last updated 26 May 2026) ·
Until December 31, 2026, Canadians can enter the Dominican Republic for tourism purposes with a passport valid for the duration of their stay.
· checked 2026-10-29 - India travel advice: Entry requirements | GOV.UK ·
To enter India, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have at least 2 blank pages.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Travel advice and advisories for India | travel.gc.ca ·
Your passport must be valid for 6 months from your date of entry into India and must contain at least two blank pages for use by immigration officials.
· checked 2026-10-29 - e-Visa | Government of India ·
Applicant's passport should have at least six months validity at the time of making application for grant of e-Visa.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Travel advice and advisories for Ireland - travel.gc.ca (last updated 26 May 2026) ·
Your passport must be valid for the expected duration of your stay in Ireland.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Ireland Travel Advice & Safety - Smartraveller (updated 19 February 2026) ·
At least one blank page in your passport is required for entry.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Entry requirements - Ireland travel advice - GOV.UK (updated 4 September 2026) ·
British nationals are not legally required to show a passport to enter Ireland, but it may be useful to carry in case you need to prove your identity.
· checked 2026-10-29
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