Can You Travel With An Expired Passport?

It is a common scenario that many travelers ask themselves whether it is possible to travel internationally with an expired passport. The quick answer is: It is not clear, and it may vary depending on the destinations to be visited. It is normally expected that your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of your trip, but there are some exceptions and special cases that expired passport is acceptable. Here’s what you need to know.

5 The General Rule for International Travel

Thus, in most cases, your passport has to be valid for at least six months from the day of entry into the country you plan to visit. This is so because most countries demand that your passport should have six months’ validity starting from the date of entry into their country. For instance, if one is planning to visit France for three weeks, France requires one to have a valid passport for at least six months from the date of arrival in France.

This is a general rule where they allow 6 months validity when travelling internationally through air and land. Thus, if you are flying to another country or even if you are driving to Canada or Mexico or even any other country, border control authorities will expect you to have a valid passport that will expire at least 6 months from the date of your arrival.

The Impacts of Traveling with Expired Passport

In case your passport does not meet the 6 month validity requirement for the country you are entering the following may happen. First of all, the airline may refuse you boarding if your passport is expired or does not meet the validity requirements of the country. Or, border agents could just refuse you entry into the country without any reason at all. Some countries may let you in but will insist on other papers and may also place a limit on how long you can stay in the country.

In summary, flying with an expired passport exposes one to the probability of being denied boarding, entry or limited stay. Related to this, it is advisable to renew one’s passport several months before a planned trip when going abroad.

When It Is Still Possible to Travel with an Expired Passport

While an expired passport is risky for international trips, there are some cases where you may still be able to travel.

1. Visiting the Country of Your Passport’s Origin

There are some countries that permit one to enter with an expired passport; however, it should be the passport of that particular country. For instance, if you are an American citizen who has been in another country and returned to the United States, the airline company as well as the immigration officers will accept your old and expired American passport as a means of identification. But this is only so if you are going straight back to your country of residence.

2. Domestic or Intra-EU Travel

Most of the European Union member countries allow the use of expired passport for traveling provided the country has its own policy on the issue. However, some of the Schengen countries have not embraced this change and would like you to have six months validity for ease of access. One should ensure this by closely checking the visa and entry rules in every country.

3. Travelling Abroad With An Expired Passport

Occasionally, it may be possible to obtain a new passport from the U.S. embassy or consulate in a foreign country if your old passport has expired while you are abroad. You will also need to submit some documents as well as meet certain criteria in order to avail this particular service. You should consult the nearest embassy or consulate as early as possible to consider all the available opportunities.

Duration of Validity of Passports

Who can forget the last time they renewed their passports? The strength of a U.S. passport depends on whether it is for a person over the age of 16 years or below 16 years.

• U.S. Passport Validity for Adults: Ten years
  
• U.S. Passport Validity for Children: A study conducted over a period of 5 years.

In any case, passports cannot be considered as valid as from the date of the expiration stated inside. This is why anyone who plans to travel internationally should always renew their passports as early as possible when the validity approaches its expiry date. Make sure that you also read the entry and visa requirements for every country that you are planning to visit very carefully.

Applying for Renewal of Your Expired Passport

The U.S. Department of State has now made it possible for you to renew your passport by mail provided that you meet the requirements. Renewing by mail saves time since there is no need to visit an acceptance facility or a post office, physically. Here are some tips for renewing your expired passport.

• Determine if you qualify for a passport renewal by mail. Not all old passport will be accepted, there are certain conditions that need to be met.
  
• Complete and submit downloadable forms, gather necessary documents and photographs for submission.
  
• Enclose all documents that you want delivered in one envelope. Payment should be included to ensure that it does not take a long time before being processed.
  
• Processing time is approximately 4-6 weeks from the business day it is received. There is always an option of getting the service done fast and this comes with a price.
  
• It is advisable to get the passport card as well in case and for the use at the land borders as well.

And so if you find yourself already holding a passport that is expired or if it will soon expire, then do not hesitate to apply for the renewal of the said passport. Longer processing times make it crucial to submit that application several weeks prior to one’s travel. A passport that has expired will limit your travelling significantly, whereas, having a passport which is still active can afford one a chance to travel anywhere in the world.