Passport Expiry Rules
Can you travel with an expired passport?
No. In most cases, you can’t travel internationally with an expired passport. Airlines and border control will usually deny boarding or entry if your passport is no longer valid. However, there are a few limited exceptions:
- Some European countries, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Monaco and Liechtenstein, may allow entry with passports that expired up to five years ago, but usually only for their own citizens or residents.
- Germany and Hungary sometimes accept passports that expired within the past year, again in specific circumstances.
- These exceptions rarely apply to tourists and are often limited to emergency travel or returning nationals.
Always check with the embassy or foreign office of the country you’re travelling to. Entry rules change frequently and depend on your nationality and reason for travel.
How long is a passport good for?
The validity of a passport depends on your country of citizenship and your age at the time of issue:
- Adults (16 and over): Most passports are valid for 10 years from the date of issue.
- Children (under 16): Child passports usually expire after 5 years.
It’s important to remember that even if your passport hasn’t expired yet, some countries require it to be valid for several months beyond your travel dates.
This is why it's always a good idea to check the passport entry rules for your destination before booking your flight!
Is an expired passport a valid form of ID?
An expired passport is not valid for international travel, but it can sometimes still be used as proof of identity, depending on the situation:
- In your home country: Some authorities may accept an expired passport as a secondary form of ID, especially if it's recently expired and the photo is recognisable.
- For passport renewal: You’ll often need your expired passport when applying for a new one, as it helps confirm your identity and citizenship.
- For domestic identification: Certain banks, post offices or government services may accept an expired passport as part of a broader ID check, though this isn’t guaranteed.
Always check what’s accepted with the specific organisation or authority - some may require a valid, in-date form of ID.
Can expired passports be renewed? How?
Yes - expired passports can usually be renewed, though the exact process depends on your country and how long ago it expired.
Here's how passport renewal generally works:
- If your passport expired recently: You can often renew it by mail or online, using a simplified form and including your expired passport as proof of identity.
- If it's been expired for several years: You may need to apply for a new passport rather than a renewal. This process is more like applying from scratch and usually requires extra documents, such as your birth certificate or another valid ID.
- For children's passports: These can’t be renewed. You’ll need to apply for a brand-new passport once the old one expires.
Top tip:
Renewing a passport can take several weeks, so it’s best to apply well before any upcoming travel. Some countries offer expedited services if you need it urgently. Always check the latest guidelines from your government’s passport office for exact steps.
Other useful guides
If you have questions about passport expiry rules, you might also be interested in our following guides:
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Frequently asked questions
How long past expiry does your passport need to be valid until for you to travel on it?
The length of time that your passport needs to be valid until for you to travel on it will differ depending on your citizenship and the country that you're flying to.
Usually, the maximum amount of time that a country will require your passport to be valid for will be at least six months. In other cases, it might be necessary for your passport to be valid for 28 days or one month past your date of exit. And, sometimes, your passport will only need to be valid for the length of your stay.
It's best to check with the governing body of the country that your passport is issued from to see what the restrictions are.
When does my passport expire?
Generally, a passport will expire 5 or 10 years past the date that it was issued, but this will differ depending on the country of the passport. The expiry date of your passport will be written inside your passport, along with the date that it was issued, so you can check the date it is valid until yourself.
Take a look at our table which shows the expiration period for each country.
Can you book a flight with an expired passport?
Yes, you can book a flight with an expired passport, but only because a passport isn't actually required to book a flight, regardless of whether it's valid or invalid. The vast majority of airlines will only ask for your passport when you come to check-in for your flight, in which case, an expired passport is not valid for check-in. Check out which places you can travel without a passport!
Can I travel with an expired passport on international flights?
On international flights, you cannot travel on an expired passport. Depending on the country of the passport you're travelling on and the destination that you're travelling to, your passport might need to be valid for up to at least six months past your date of travel. Please bear in mind that you'll be refused entry into the country if your passport isn't valid.
Can I travel with an expired passport on domestic flights?
No, an expired passport isn't a form of valid identification for domestic flights. Although — unlike international flights — a passport isn't essential for domestic travel, airlines do require you to present an in-date form of photo identification (such as a valid passport, drivers license or a form of photo ID distributed by an educational body).
Can I travel with an expired passport back to my country?
No, you can't travel back to your country on an expired passport if your passport expires while you're away. In fact, if your passport is due to expire before the return flight to your country, you won't be allowed to enter the country that you're visiting in the first place. To gain entry to a country, at the very minimum, your passport must be valid for the length of your stay.
Before flying please ensure to check that your passport is valid for the time period you're away on holiday.
What should I do if I realise my passport is expired at the last minute?
If you realise your passport has expired and you're supposed to go away soon, you should contact the authority that is in charge of issuing passports in your country. As long as the date of travel isn't too close, they might be able to arrange for an emergency passport to be issued to you before you go away.
Will TSA accept an expired passport?
No, TSA will not accept an expired passport for a flight. For international travel, a valid passport is essential. For domestic flights, a valid passport isn't essential, but you must have some form of valid photo identification that hasn't expired.
How should I dispose of an expired passport?
We don't recommend disposing of your old passport, especially if you have a valid visa's inside of it. An old passport can still hold some value as it acts as evidence that you're a citizen of that country. If you do keep your passport, you should keep it in a safe place.
If you do decide to dispose of your passport, it's a good idea to shred or burn it, to protect it from fraudsters.
Can an expired passport be used for i-9?
Yes, both a valid and expired passport can be used for a i-9 form.
What is a passport expiry date?
A passport expiration date tells you the date your passport is no longer valid. Once your passport runs out of date, you cannot use it as valid identification. During the time of validity, you can use your passport as a form of identification for travel.
Is an expired passport proof of citizenship?
Yes, an expired passport is proof of citizenship and most countries will recognise a passport as proof of citizenship, even if it has expired. In most cases, you'll need to show your old passport as a form of identification in order to renew your passport.