Enter your passport expiry date — printed on your passport's photo page. Add the issue date too if you plan to visit Schengen countries.
2
Add each destination leg — one row per country. Enter the destination name, your arrival and departure dates, and choose the validity rule that applies.
3
Choose a validity rule — look up the country's entry requirement (transit countries count!). Options: 6 months from arrival, 6 months from departure, 3 months from departure (Schengen), 3 months from arrival, duration of stay only, or custom days.
4
Read your results — each leg shows pass/fail and the minimum expiry date required. The overall banner shows the strictest requirement and your renewal deadline.
5
Print or share — save a PDF of the result summary to keep with your travel documents.
Why Passport Validity Rules Are Trickier Than You Think
Most travelers check that their passport "isn't expired" — but that's not enough for international travel. Different countries apply different rules, measured from different reference dates:
6 months from arrival (strictest) — Countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East (e.g. Thailand, China, UAE, Kenya, Philippines). Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond the day you land.
6 months from departure — Some countries start the clock from the day you leave. A long stay makes this stricter than the arrival variant.
3 months from departure — Schengen Area — 29 European countries require 3 months' validity beyond your planned last day in the zone. Passports must also have been issued within the last 10 years.
3 months from arrival — Some destinations require only 3 months' validity from the day you arrive.
Duration of stay only — Countries like Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, UK, Chile, and Argentina only require validity through the length of your visit.
Custom — Some countries have non-standard rules (e.g. South Africa: 30 days beyond exit; Hong Kong: 1 month beyond stay). Enter the required number of days beyond your departure date.
On a multi-leg trip, you must satisfy every leg's rule — the strictest one across all destinations determines the minimum expiry your passport needs.
⚠ Estimates for planning purposes only. Entry requirements can change — always verify with the official embassy or consulate of each destination and your airline before travel. This is not legal or official travel advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 6-month passport rule? ▾
The 6-month rule is a common entry requirement that your passport must remain valid for at least six months from a key travel date — most often your arrival date, though some countries measure from your departure date. Countries across Asia (Thailand, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines), Africa, and the Middle East widely enforce this standard. The logic is practical: if an emergency extends your stay, the destination country doesn't want you stuck there with an expiring document. Airlines also enforce it at check-in, sometimes applying a blanket 6-month policy for all international routes.
What is the Schengen 3-month rule and 10-year issuance rule? ▾
The Schengen Area (29 European countries) requires your passport to be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned last day in the zone — not just the duration of your stay. Separately, the passport must have been issued within the last 10 years at the time of travel. This 10-year issuance rule catches travelers who have an old passport that was "extended" by a previous renewal cycle — the extra months don't count. If you're UK-born and your passport was issued before October 2018, check whether any extra months were added at renewal; those months won't be accepted by Schengen border officers.
Do transit countries count? ▾
Yes. If you pass through immigration (even for a layover), the transit country's passport validity rules apply. Airside transits where you don't clear immigration typically don't require the same validity, but this varies. As a safe practice, add any transit country where you'll pass through a border checkpoint as its own leg in this planner. A 2-hour layover in a country with a strict 6-month rule can get you denied boarding for your onward flight.
When should I renew my passport before a multi-country trip? ▾
Work backwards from the "minimum passport must not expire before" date this planner calculates. From that date, subtract your expected processing time: routine service is approximately 4–6 weeks; expedited is 2–3 weeks; urgent (passport agency appointment) can be 5–14 days. The U.S. State Department recommends renewing when you have 9 months left to avoid cutting it close. Many travel advisors suggest renewing if you have under 12 months remaining, especially for trips involving countries with a strict 6-month rule.
Can I book travel and renew my passport at the same time? ▾
Yes, but book refundable tickets if your current passport wouldn't meet requirements and you're awaiting renewal. Use this planner's renewal deadline field to check whether your processing window fits before your departure date. If the deadline has already passed for routine renewal, consider an expedited or urgent appointment. Always keep a buffer — processing times can lengthen during peak seasons (spring break, summer, holidays).
What does "duration of stay only" mean? ▾
Some countries (including Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Australia, UK, Chile, and Argentina for US passport holders) only require your passport to be valid through the last day of your visit — they don't demand a 3- or 6-month buffer. This is the most lenient rule. However, airlines may apply stricter internal policies, so having at least 3–6 months' validity beyond any trip is always the safest approach even if the official requirement is lower.
What is the "custom days" option for? ▾
Some destinations have non-standard validity requirements not covered by the common 3- or 6-month rules. For example, South Africa requires 30 days beyond your exit date; Hong Kong requires only 1 month beyond your stay; Israel requires 3 months from arrival. Select "Custom" and enter the specific number of days required beyond your departure date for destinations like these. Always verify with the official embassy or government travel advisory.