The six-month passport rule: which countries need it, and how to check

What the six-month rule actually is

There isn't one rule. Each country sets its own minimum passport validity, and "six months" is simply the most common. The rule is about the expiry date printed in your passport, and how far it must be from the day you arrive or leave.

The common versions are:

• Six months after you arrive. Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, the UAE, India, China, Vietnam, Egypt, Brazil.
• Three months after you leave. The 29 Schengen countries, including France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, and New Zealand.
• Valid for your stay. Japan, Australia, Canada and, for British passport holders, the United States. Your passport only needs to be in date until you leave.
• Something else. Türkiye wants 150 days after you arrive; South Africa wants 30 days after you leave and two blank pages.

Passport validity rules by country

This table comes from the UK government's foreign travel advice, checked on 10 October 2026. It's written for British passport holders, and most of these rules apply to every visitor, but a few countries treat nationalities differently. Always confirm with the official source for your own passport before you book.

Rules change, sometimes at short notice. The official sources are the UK foreign travel advice, the US State Department's country pages, Australia's Smartraveller, or the embassy of the country you're visiting.

Europe's rule is really two rules

The Schengen area catches people out because it checks two dates, not one. Your passport must:

1. Have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive.

   This matters for older British passports. Before October 2018, the UK added up to nine months from an old passport onto a new one, so some passports have an expiry date more than 10 years after their issue date. The extra months don't count for entry to Europe.

2. Expire at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave.

   Measured from your last day in the Schengen area, not your first. A two-week holiday ending on 20 August needs a passport valid until at least 20 November.

Both conditions apply at once. A passport can be in date, with years left on it, and still be refused because it was issued more than 10 years ago.

Why an airline can stop you, even if the country might not

You'll usually meet the passport rule at check-in, not at the border. Airlines are fined, and have to fly you home at their own cost, if they carry someone who is refused entry, so they check documents against each country's rules before you board. If your passport falls short, the airline will turn you away, and the ticket is usually non-refundable.

Some airlines apply six months as a blanket policy on certain routes to be safe. If you're borderline, ask the airline as well as checking the country.

Don't forget the stopover

Connecting through a third country? Some apply their passport rule to transit passengers too, even if you never leave the airport. The UAE, for example, asks for three months' validity from the day you transit when you don't pass through immigration. Check every country on the route.

Children's passports run out sooner

Children's passports are usually valid for five years rather than ten, so in a family the child's is often the one that's too close. A five-year passport issued for a toddler's first holiday is due again before they start school. Check every passport in the family, not just your own, and check them when you book rather than when you pack.

How to check your passport in two minutes

1. Find the date you leave the destination.

   Your last day there, not your first, for countries that measure from departure.

2. Look up the destination's rule.

   Use the official source for your passport. Note blank-page rules too.

3. Count forward from the right date.

   Six months from arrival, three months from departure, or just the length of the stay.

4. For Europe, check the issue date as well.

   It must be less than 10 years before you arrive.

5. If it's close, renew now.

   Processing times vary through the year and peak before summer. Check your passport office's current estimate and leave plenty of margin.

Questions people ask

Does the six-month passport rule apply to Europe?

Not exactly. The Schengen countries, including France, Spain, Italy and Greece, need your passport to expire at least three months after the day you leave the Schengen area, and to have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive.

Does Japan have a six-month passport rule?

No. Japan asks that your passport is valid for the length of your stay, with a blank page for the entry stamp, according to the UK government's travel advice. Your airline may have its own policy, so check with them too.

Does the six-month rule apply to Mexico?

Mexico asks that your passport is valid for the length of your stay. The Mexican Embassy in the UK recommends at least 180 days of validity, because that's the longest a tourist can stay.

Does the six-month passport rule apply to children?

Yes. Children need to meet the same validity rules as adults, and their passports are usually valid for only five years, so they run out sooner. Check every passport in the family.

Is the six months counted from arrival or departure?

It depends on the country. Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, the UAE and others count six months from the day you arrive. The Schengen area and New Zealand count three months from the day you leave.

Can I travel with a passport that expires in three months?

To some places. Countries that only need your passport valid for your stay, such as Japan, Australia and Canada, may accept it. Schengen countries need three months after you leave, and six-month countries won't. Renewing is the safer choice.