Passport expiry checker
A passport with months left on it can still be refused. Enter your dates and this checks them against the three rules that actually get enforced at check-in.
The three rules
- Six months beyond entry. The most common and the strictest in practice. Much of Asia and the Middle East applies it, and some countries measure from your departure date rather than arrival, which quietly adds the length of your trip.
- Schengen. Issued within ten years on the day you enter, and valid for three months after you leave. Two conditions, both enforced, and the first one surprises people.
- Duration of stay. The passport simply has to outlast the trip. The UK, Ireland, US, Canada, Australia and Japan work this way for most nationalities.
Next
- Packing list generator: once the documents are settled.
- Group trip guide: checking six passports instead of one.
Common questions
What is the six-month passport rule?
Many countries require your passport to remain valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry, or sometimes your date of departure. It is enforced by the airline at check-in, not only at the border, so a passport that breaks the rule can stop you boarding at home.
How does the Schengen rule differ?
The Schengen area requires two things at once: the passport must have been issued within the last ten years on the day you enter, and it must be valid for at least three months after your intended departure. The ten-year clause catches people whose passport was renewed early and carries extra months on the end.
Does a renewed passport keep the extra months?
It may show them, but Schengen will not count them. If your passport was issued more than ten years before your date of entry it is not accepted, regardless of the expiry date printed on it. This affected a large number of UK passports issued before 2019.
Is this checker authoritative?
No. It applies the three common rule groups and is a first-pass sanity check, not legal advice. Entry requirements change and some countries apply exceptions by nationality. Confirm with your destination's embassy or your government's travel advice before booking.
Get reminded before it matters
Packalong stores your document expiry dates and reminds you months ahead, early enough that renewing is routine rather than urgent.
