When traveling abroad, it is essential to have a valid passport and to know how long your passport is valid for.
The length of validity of a new passport can vary depending on factors such as the country of issue and the traveler’s age.
If a traveler’s passport has expired, they must renew it before planning a trip to another country.
This might also be the case if the passport has less than 6 months validity remaining. Some countries’ visa requirements include having a passport that will continue to be valid for a certain period.
How Long Is a Passport Good for
A passport is valid until the expiration date listed on the information page.
In most cases, the date of expiry of an adult passport is approximately either 5 or 10 years after the date of issue.
However, the total length of passport validity depends on the country of issue.
The traveler’s age also affects the validity of the passport issued. For example, child passports tend to be valid for a shorter period of time than adult passports.
How long is an adult passport valid for?
Many countries issue 10-year passports as the standard for adults. This is a growing trend around the world. Examples include the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Brazil, Argentina, China, India, Russia, France, South Africa, and various other countries.
5-year passports are also common. Countries that issue adult passports valid for 5 years include Finland, Greece, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Peru, Portugal, Sweden, Thailand, as well as most African nations.
A minority of countries issue adult passports valid for a different length of time, such as Cuba (6 years) and Egypt (7 years).
Some countries, such as Canada, allow citizens to choose between different options — usually between a 5-year and a 10-year passport. Some, like Mexico, have various other validities that can be selected.
How long is a child passport valid for?
It is common for countries to issue infant passports that are only valid for 1-2 years. This is because children’s appearances change quickly up to age 5.
Child passports are generally valid for 5 years. Again, this may vary depending on the country of issue.
Young adult passport validity
Some countries also have a shorter passport validity for young adults. In most cases, this is 5 years.
The age definition of a “young adult” can vary according to the state in question. For example, the following countries issue 5-year “young adult passports” to travelers of different age ranges:
- USA – up to 16 yeas
- Germany – up to 24 years
- Spain – up to 30 years
Senior passport validity
Certain nations issue senior citizens with passports that have long validity periods compared to most adults.
In the case of Spain, passports issued to nationals over 70 years old have no expiry date.
Which Countries Require Six Months of Passport Validity?
Although a passport is technically valid until the expiry date printed on the information page, many countries will refuse entry to passengers if the document is set to expire within the next 6 months.
This is because the terms of the traveler’s visa may allow them to stay for longer than their passport is valid for. By setting a minimum passport validity rule, authorities can ensure that the individual’s passport will still be valid to allow them to leave the country.
Countries with a six-month passport validity rule include Brazil, China, Indonesia, Kenya, the Philippines, Singapore, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and various others.
Some other countries have similar rules, but only require passports to be valid for 1, 3, or 4 months.
Canada, the UAE, and the Schengen Area are examples of those that ask for at least 3 months’ validity.