Which countries require 6 months of passport validity?
Many countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America ask for 6 months from the day you arrive, for example Thailand, Indonesia, China, the UAE, Jordan, Kenya, Tanzania, Peru and Ecuador. A few count the 6 months from the day you leave, which needs a longer passport: for US passports, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Europe's Schengen area asks for 3 months after you leave the area. Many of the most visited countries, including the UK, Japan, Mexico and Canada, only need the passport to be valid for your stay or on the day you arrive.
Passport validity table for US and UK passports
Last verified 2026-10-28. "More advised" means you meet the legal rule with less, but the State Department, the destination or airlines recommend more. Select Check to test your own dates in the passport validity checker, which also shows the official wording and source for each rule.
Europe
| Destination | US passport | UK passport |
|---|
| Schengen area (29 countries) | Valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area; issued less than 10 years before you arrive (more advised) Check | Valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area; issued less than 10 years before you arrive Check |
| United Kingdom | Valid until the day you leave; 1 blank page Check | Your own country |
| Ireland | Valid until the day you leave; 1 blank page Check | No passport legally required Check |
| Cyprus | Valid at least 3 months after you leave; 2 blank pages Check | Valid at least 3 months after you leave; issued less than 10 years before you arrive; 1 blank page Check |
| Montenegro | Valid on the day you arrive; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 3 months after you leave; issued less than 10 years before you arrive Check |
| Albania | Valid at least 3 months after you leave; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 3 months after you leave Check |
| Turkey | Valid at least 150 days after you arrive; 1 blank page (more advised) Check | Valid at least 150 days after you arrive; 1 blank page Check |
North America
| Destination | US passport | UK passport |
|---|
| United States | Your own country | Valid until the day you leave Check |
| Canada | Valid on the day you arrive Check | Valid until the day you leave Check |
| Mexico | Valid until the day you leave; 1 blank page (air travel) Check | Valid until the day you leave (more advised) Check |
Caribbean
| Destination | US passport | UK passport |
|---|
| Bahamas | Valid until the day you leave; 2 blank pages Check | Valid at least 6 months after you leave Check |
| Jamaica | Valid until the day you leave Check | Valid until the day you leave; 2 blank pages Check |
| Dominican Republic | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check | Valid until the day you leave Check |
| Aruba | Valid until the day you leave; 1 blank page Check | Valid until the day you leave Check |
| Curaçao | Valid until the day you leave; 1 blank page Check | Valid until the day you leave Check |
| Turks and Caicos | Valid at least 3 months after you leave; 2 blank pages Check | Valid until the day you leave Check |
| Cayman Islands | Valid until the day you leave Check | Valid until the day you leave Check |
| Bermuda | Valid on the day you arrive; 1 blank page Check | Valid until the day you leave; 1 blank page Check |
| Barbados | Valid on the day you arrive; 1 blank page Check | Valid until the day you leave Check |
| St Lucia | Valid until the day you leave Check | Valid beyond the day you leave Check |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 1 blank page (more advised) Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check |
Central America
| Destination | US passport | UK passport |
|---|
| Costa Rica | Valid until the day you leave Check | Valid at least 1 day after the day you leave Check |
| Belize | Valid until the day you leave; 1 blank page Check | Valid more than 3 months after you arrive (more advised) Check |
| Panama | Valid at least 3 months after you arrive Check | Valid at least 6 months after you leave; 1 blank page Check |
South America
| Destination | US passport | UK passport |
|---|
| Ecuador | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check |
| Peru | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check |
| Colombia | Valid until the day you leave; 1 blank page (more advised) Check | Valid on the day you arrive (more advised) Check |
| Brazil | Valid at least 1 month after you arrive; 2 blank pages Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check |
| Argentina | Valid on the day you arrive; 1 blank page Check | Valid until the day you leave Check |
| Chile | Valid until the day you leave; 1 blank page Check | Valid beyond the day you leave Check |
Asia
| Destination | US passport | UK passport |
|---|
| Japan | Valid until the day you leave; 1 blank page Check | Valid until the day you leave; 1 blank page Check |
| South Korea | Valid on the day you arrive Check | Valid beyond the day you leave Check |
| China | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 2 blank pages Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 2 blank pages Check |
| Hong Kong | Valid at least 1 month after you leave; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 1 month after you leave Check |
| Thailand | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 1 blank page Check |
| Vietnam | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 1 blank page (more advised) Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 2 blank pages Check |
| Indonesia | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 2 blank pages Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 2 blank pages Check |
| Philippines | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check |
| Singapore | Valid at least 6 months after you leave; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check |
| Malaysia | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check |
| India | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 2 blank pages Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 2 blank pages Check |
| Sri Lanka | Valid at least 6 months after you leave; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check |
| Maldives | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 1 month after you arrive Check |
Oceania
| Destination | US passport | UK passport |
|---|
| Australia | Valid on the day you arrive; 1 blank page Check | Valid until the day you leave Check |
| New Zealand | Valid at least 3 months after you leave; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 3 months after you leave Check |
Middle East
| Destination | US passport | UK passport |
|---|
| United Arab Emirates | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check |
| Qatar | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 2 blank pages Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check |
| Jordan | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive Check |
| Israel | Valid at least 3 months after you arrive; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 3 months after you arrive Check |
Africa
| Destination | US passport | UK passport |
|---|
| Egypt | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 1 blank page Check |
| Morocco | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 3 months after you arrive Check |
| South Africa | Valid at least 30 days after you leave; 2 blank pages (side by side) Check | Valid at least 30 days after you leave; 2 blank pages Check |
| Kenya | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 2 blank pages Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 2 blank pages Check |
| Tanzania | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 1 blank page Check | Valid at least 6 months after you arrive; 1 blank page Check |
Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Why are the US and UK rules different for some countries?
Where the destination government publishes its rule, we use it for both passports. Otherwise each passport follows its own government's guidance: the US State Department for US passports, and the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) for British passports. Their wording sometimes differs. For example, the State Department says 6 months for the Maldives and Morocco, while the FCDO says 1 month and 3 months for British passports. Some differences are genuine rules for each nationality; others are just different summaries. When in doubt, ask your airline or the embassy.
Do blank pages matter?
Yes, for some countries. South Africa needs 2 blank pages side by side, and several countries in Asia and Africa need 1 or 2. The table lists the number of pages each government asks for. Endorsement pages at the back of the passport don't count as blank visa pages.