It depends on where you are going: from “valid for your stay” to 6 months after you arrive.
There is no worldwide 6-month rule. Each country sets its own, and they differ more than most people expect. The UK, the US and Japan only ask for a passport valid for the length of your stay. Europe’s Schengen area asks for 3 months after you leave, and a passport issued in the last 10 years. Indonesia asks for 6 months after you arrive and two blank pages.
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The rule for each destination
| Going to | Your passport must be | Blank pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Valid for the whole of your stay | At least one (US State Dept) | US State Dept |
| France, Italy, Spain and the rest of the Schengen area | Issued less than 10 years before you arrive, and valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area | At least one, for stamps (US State Dept) | GOV.UK, US State Dept |
| United States | Valid for the length of your planned stay | — | GOV.UK |
| Japan | Valid for the length of your stay. No extra period required | One, for the entry stamp | GOV.UK, US State Dept |
| South Korea | For British passports: an expiry date after the day you leave (for a tourist stay of up to 90 days) | — | GOV.UK |
| Indonesia | Valid for at least 6 months after the day you arrive | At least two | GOV.UK, US State Dept |
For South Korea with a US passport, check the US State Department’s South Korea page before you book: we could not confirm it on 6 November 2026.
Where the “6-month rule” comes from
Two places: a few countries, and caution. Some countries, like Indonesia, really do require 6 months. Others recommend it without requiring it: for Spain and France, the US State Department requires 3 months after you leave the Schengen area but recommends 6. And GOV.UK warns that many countries will only let you transit or enter with at least 6 months left. So 6 months is not the rule everywhere, but it is the safe margin.
Our tip: if your passport has fewer than 6 months left on the day you come home, renew it before you book. It is cheaper than changing a flight.
The 10-year trap in Europe
Schengen has a second rule that catches people with older passports: the passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive. A passport that was issued with extra months carried over from an old one can still show a valid expiry date and fail this rule. Check the date of issue, not just the expiry date.
Children’s passports expire first
- A US passport for a child under 16 is valid for only 5 years, and both parents or guardians must approve a new one. You cannot renew it by post with Form DS-82.
- A UK child passport (under 16) is also valid for 5 years.
- So in most families, the children’s passports are the first to need renewing, and the first to fall below a country’s rule.
A new passport also means new permits
Travel authorisations are linked to the passport you applied with. If you renew a passport, you need a new UK ETA before you travel on it, even if the old ETA had time left: see Do you need a UK ETA? and the UK ETA for children.
Questions about passport validity
Do I need 6 months left on my passport to travel?
Not everywhere. The UK, the US and Japan ask for a passport valid for your stay; the Schengen area asks for 3 months after you leave; Indonesia asks for 6 months after you arrive. Six months is the safe margin, not a universal rule.
How long does my passport need to be valid for Europe?
For the Schengen area, including France, Italy and Spain: valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave, and issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive.
How long does my passport need to be valid for the UK?
For the whole of your stay. Most visitors who do not need a visa also need a UK ETA, linked to that passport.
How long does my passport need to be valid for Japan?
For the length of your stay, with one blank page for the entry stamp.
Is my passport valid enough if it expires during my trip?
No. Every destination on this page needs the passport to be valid at least until you leave.
Can the airline refuse to let me board?
Yes. Airlines check documents before you fly, because they have to take you back if you are refused entry. If your passport does not meet the destination’s rule, expect to be stopped at check-in, not at the border.
How long is a child’s passport valid?
Five years for a US passport issued to a child under 16, and five years for a UK child passport.
Is VIARYO official?
No. We are not a government body. We summarise what the authorities publish, link to them and date every check. Where we disagree with them, they are right.
Change log
- Page published. Checked against GOV.UK and the US State Department.
Sources
Checked on .
- GOV.UK — France travel advice: entry requirements
- GOV.UK — USA travel advice: entry requirements
- GOV.UK — Japan travel advice: entry requirements
- GOV.UK — South Korea travel advice: entry requirements
- GOV.UK — Indonesia travel advice: entry requirements
- US State Department — United Kingdom country information
- US State Department — France country information
- US State Department — Spain country information
- US State Department — Japan country information
- US State Department — Indonesia country information
- US State Department — Passports for children under 16
- GOV.UK — Get a passport for your child
About this page
VIARYO is not a government body and this page is not an official source. We read what GOV.UK and the US State Department publish, summarise it, and record the date we last checked — you can read how we check our information. Where an official source and this page disagree, the official source is right.