Many countries enforce the six-month passport validity rule, which requires travelers to have a passport valid for at least six months either from the date of entry or beyond the duration of their stay. Failing to meet this requirement can result in being denied boarding by your airline even before reaching your destination.
Unfortunately, many travelers only discover this rule shortly before departure, or worse, at the airport check-in counter. If your passport doesn't meet the validity requirement, you may be forced to expedite a passport renewal, reschedule flights, or cancel your trip entirely.
To help you avoid these travel disruptions, we've compiled country-by-country reference tables that show where the six-month rule is enforced and where shorter validity (or 'valid through your stay') is accepted. This list is organized by continent, with countries listed in alphabetical order. Keep in mind that entry requirements can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information, always confirm requirements with the destination country's embassy or consulate and your airline before traveling.
In addition to passport validity, many of these countries also require a valid travel visa. Be sure to review both sets of requirements as part of your trip planning.
Note: European countries in the Schengen Area are not included in this list. Their official rule is 3 months of passport validity beyond your planned departure date, and your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years. The EU is currently rolling out its new Entry/Exit System (EES) and plans to launch the separate ETIAS travel authorisation in the last quarter of 2026.These systems change the screening process but do not replace the underlying 3-month passport-validity rule-though 6 months of validity is still the safest buffer.
Check the list below to see if your destination enforces the 6-month passport validity rule-and avoid last-minute surprises before your trip.
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Africa
Key Details
- All African countries in the table require at least 6 months passport validity upon arrival.
- Angola is a notable exception-passports need only be valid for the duration of stay, but many visa applications still expect 6 months.
- Zambia and Senegal explicitly mandate 6 months validity and often require blank passport pages (typically 2-3).
- Eswatini also legally requires 6 months validity, not just 1 month as some sources suggest.
- Always ensure your passport has sufficient blank pages (usually at least 2) for visas and entry/exit stamps.
- If your passport is within 6-9 months of expiring or doesn't have enough blank pages, renew before you book non-refundable travel to avoid last-minute issues.
| Country | 6-Month Validity Required? |
|---|---|
| Algeria | Yes (Requires 6 months beyond arrival) |
| Angola | No (Valid for duration of stay only) |
| Botswana | Yes |
| Cameroon | Yes |
| Central African Republic | Yes |
| Chad | Yes |
| Congo (Republic) | Yes |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Yes |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Yes |
| Djibouti | Yes |
| Egypt | Yes |
| Equatorial Guinea | Yes |
| Eritrea | Yes (1 month may be allowed, but 6 safer) |
| Eswatini | Yes |
| Ethiopia | Yes |
| Gabon | Yes |
| Ghana | Yes |
| Guinea | Yes |
| Guinea-Bissau | Yes |
| Kenya | Yes |
| Madagascar | Yes |
| Malawi | Yes |
| Mauritania | Yes |
| Morocco | Yes |
| Mozambique | Yes |
| Namibia | Yes |
| Nigeria | Yes |
| Rwanda | Yes |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | Yes |
| Senegal | Yes |
| Sierra Leone | Yes |
| South Sudan | Yes |
| Sudan | Yes |
| Tanzania | Yes |
| Tunisia | Yes |
| Uganda | Yes |
| Zambia | Yes |
Asia
Key Details
- Most Asian countries listed require 6 months passport validity upon arrival.
- Hong Kong requires only 1 month validity beyond your stay.
- Japan and Singapore Airlines enforce validity only through your trip, but airlines may incorrectly assume 6 months-always check destination rules and be prepared at check-in stations.
- A few countries (such as Kazakhstan and Qatar) follow a 3-month validity rule instead of 6 months. We still include them in the table so you can compare requirements across the region.
- Ensure your passport has at least 2 blank pages available for visas and entry/exit stamps.
- If your passport does not have sufficient validity or blank visa pages, you need to apply for a renewal before you travel
| Country | 6-Month Validity Required? |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Yes |
| Armenia | No |
| Azerbaijan | Yes |
| Bahrain | Yes |
| Bangladesh | Yes |
| Bhutan | Yes |
| Brunei | Yes |
| Cambodia | Yes |
| China | Yes |
| Georgia | No |
| Hong Kong | No |
| India | Yes |
| Indonesia | Yes |
| Iran | Yes |
| Iraq | Yes |
| Israel | No (airline-enforced) |
| Japan | No |
| Jordan | Yes |
| Kazakhstan | No (3-month rule) |
| Kuwait | Yes |
| Kyrgyzstan | Yes |
| Laos | Yes |
| Lebanon | No (*3-month rule) |
| Macau | No (3-month) |
| Malaysia | Yes |
| Maldives | Yes |
| Mongolia | Yes |
| Myanmar | Yes |
| Nepal | Yes |
| North Korea | Yes |
| Oman | Yes |
| Pakistan | Yes |
| Philippines | Yes |
| Qatar | No (3-month rule) |
| Saudi Arabia | Yes |
| Singapore | Yes |
| South Korea | No |
| Sri Lanka | Yes |
| Syria | No |
| Taiwan | Yes |
| Tajikistan | Yes |
| Thailand | Yes |
| Timor-Leste | Yes |
| Turkmenistan | Yes |
| UAE | Yes |
| Uzbekistan | No |
| Vietnam | Yes |
| Yemen | Yes |
*Note regarding Lebanon: Some airlines and third-party sites advise having 6 months' validity for Lebanon. When in doubt, travel with at least 6 months remaining.
Europe
Key Details
- Passports for travel to Europe (Schengen Area) must be valid for **at least 3 months beyond your intended departure date**.
- Passports must also have been **issued within the last 10 years**.
- Some airlines and unofficial sources mistakenly suggest a 6-month validity rule-but the **official requirement is 3 months**.
- Despite being only a 3-month rule, it's often recommended to carry a passport with **more validity** to avoid potential boarding issues.
- If your passport does not have sufficient validity or blank visa pages, you need to apply for a renewal before you travel
| Country | 6-Month Validity Required? |
|---|---|
| Albania | No |
| Andorra | No |
| Austria | No |
| Belarus | No |
| Belgium | No |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | No |
| Bulgaria | No |
| Croatia | No |
| Cyprus | No |
| Czech Republic | No |
| Denmark | No |
| Estonia | No |
| Finland | No |
| France | No |
| Germany | No |
| Greece | No |
| Hungary | No |
| Iceland | No |
| Ireland | No |
| Italy | No |
| Kosovo | No |
| Latvia | No |
| Liechtenstein | No |
| Lithuania | No |
| Luxembourg | No |
| Malta | No |
| Moldova | No |
| Monaco | No |
| Montenegro | No |
| Netherlands | No |
| North Macedonia | No |
| Norway | No |
| Poland | No |
| Portugal | No |
| Romania | No |
| San Marino | No |
| Serbia | No |
| Slovakia | No |
| Slovenia | No |
| Spain | No |
| Sweden | No |
| Switzerland | No |
| Ukraine | No |
| United Kingdom | No |
| Vatican City | No |
North America
Key Details
- Many North American countries-including Canada, Mexico, and most Caribbean nations-only require passports to be valid for the duration of the stay.
- Exceptions to the 6-month rule in the U.S. apply to citizens of the "Six-Month Club" countries, who need only validity through their stay.
- Airlines may enforce the 6-month rule even when it's not required by immigration-always check both the destination and airline policies.
- Ensure your passport has at least 2-4 blank visa/pages available for entry/exit stamps.
- If your passport does not have sufficient validity or blank visa pages, you need to apply for a renewal before you travel
| Country | 6-Month Validity Required? |
|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | Yes |
| Aruba | No |
| Bahamas | No |
| Barbados | No |
| Belize | No |
| British Virgin Islands | No |
| Canada | No |
| Cayman Islands | No |
| Costa Rica | No |
| Cuba | No |
| Dominican Republic | No |
| El Salvador | No (valid at time of entry) |
| Guatemala | No |
| Honduras | No |
| Jamaica | No |
| Mexico | No |
| Montserrat | No |
| Panama | No |
| Saint Lucia | No |
Oceania
Key Details
- Most Pacific nations-like Fiji, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu-require a passport valid for 6 months upon arrival.
- Australia only requires your passport to be valid on the day of arrival, unless you are transiting through a country with a stricter rule.
- New Zealand requires validity of at least 3 months beyond your intended stay.
- The Federated States of Micronesia require at least 4 months validity beyond arrival (120 days).
- Ensure your passport has at least 2 blank pages available for entry/exit stamps and visa endorsements.
- If your passport is within 6-9 months of expiring or doesn't have enough blank pages, apply for a renewal before you book non-refundable travel to avoid last-minute issues.
| Country | 6-Month Validity Required? |
|---|---|
| Australia | No |
| Fiji | Yes |
| Kiribati | Yes |
| Marshall Islands | Yes |
| Micronesia | No (4 months) |
| Nauru | No |
| New Zealand | No (3 months) |
| Palau | Yes |
| Papua New Guinea | Yes |
| Samoa | Yes |
| Solomon Islands | Yes |
| Tonga | Yes |
| Tuvalu | Yes |
| Vanuatu | Yes |
South America
Key Details
- Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela currently require 6-month passport validity upon entry. Brazil and Paraguay generally require passports that are valid through your stay, but many airlines and visa services still recommend a 6-month buffer.
- Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay require passports valid only through the duration of your stay (No 6-month requirement).
- Colombia requires validity for the duration of stay, though a 6-month validity is recommended.
- Policies can change over time; this summary reflects the most recent publicly available information.
- If your passport does not have sufficient validity or blank visa pages, you need to apply for a renewal before you travel
| Country | 6-Month Validity Required? |
|---|---|
| Argentina | No |
| Bolivia | Yes |
| Brazil | No (valid on date of entry; 6 months recommended) |
| Chile | No |
| Colombia | No* |
| Ecuador | Yes |
| Guyana | Yes |
| Paraguay | No (valid through stay; 6 months may be needed for some visas) |
| Peru | Yes |
| Suriname | Yes |
| Uruguay | No |
| Venezuela | Yes |
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