How do I find out how long I need on my passport?
The best way to find out if your passport is valid for travel to certain countries is to check the Travel Advice section of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) website. Choose the country you’re visiting, before clicking on ‘Entry requirements’ and scrolling down to ‘Passport validity’.
Passport rules for different countries
All countries will have their own rules concerning passport validity and expiration rules. Here’s a list of the most common ones:
Australia
Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay.
Barbados
Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay.
Canada
Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay, but if you have less than six months validity it may take longer to pass through immigration control.
China
Your passport should have at least six months validity.
Egypt
Your passport should have at least six months validity.
European Union
For most European countries, HM Passport Office recommend that the passport expiry date is at least three months after intended day of departure from EU. Those countries are:
*However, if you’re travelling to the north of Cyprus, your passport should have at least six months validity.
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Austria
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Belgium
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Croatia
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Cyprus*
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Czech Republic
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Denmark
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Estonia
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Finland
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France
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Germany
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Greece
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Hungary
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Ireland
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Italy
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Latvia
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Lithuania
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Luxembourg
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Malta
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Netherlands
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Poland
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Portugal
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Romania
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Slovakia
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Slovenia
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Spain
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Sweden
India
Your passport must be machine readable, with two blank pages for your visa and valid for a minimum of 180 days at the time of entry into India.
Japan
Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay.
Mexico
Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay.
New Zealand
Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of one month from the date of exit.
Singapore
Your passport should have at least six months validity.
South Africa
Rules state that your passport should be valid for at least 30 days from the date of exit, but it’s recommended that you have at least six months on your passport before it expires. Your passport should also have at least two blank pages when you enter or leave South Africa.
Thailand
Your passport should have at least six months validity.
Turkey
Your passport should have at least six months validity.
USA
Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay. However, your passport must be a biometric ePassport with the silver camera symbol on the front. There are also a number of other rules concerning entry to the USA, which you should check before travelling.
What to do if you need a new passport
If you need to renew your passport and have more than four weeks before you travel, pick up an application form from your local Post Office or use our online Passport Check & Send process.
If you need your passport more urgently, then read the Government’s official passport advice to find out more on soon to expire passports.
