Don’t let this happen to you!  I know a family who recently missed their holiday – and lost nearly everything they’d spent on their vacation – all because of a completely avoidable travel document snafu. It happens more often than you think – but it shouldn’t happen to you. 

Here’s the sad story: For their first trip as a family, the parents got the kids their first passports but planned to travel on their own existing passports, which were still valid from their honeymoon a few years ago. 

They knew their destination didn’t need a visa, so they thought they were good to go. 

Wrong. 

The couple has a travel journalist friend (ahem!) who had been at their wedding and did some quick mental math, calculating that their passports were likely close to expiring. 

She advised them that many destinations don’t allow you to enter without at least six months left on your passport.  

You could find yourself turned away when you try to enter such a country. In fact, you will likely be denied boarding your flight. 

That’s what happened to this family. With passports that were still valid – but had less than six months before expiration – the parents were denied boarding. With not enough time to get new passports, even emergency ones, as well as reschedule all their travel plans, the family not only lost the week-long vacation they’d been looking forward to. They also lost a lot of money they’d spent a long time-saving. 

If you are turned away because your travel documentation isn’t in order: 

• Your airline can’t help you.
• Your travel advisor can’t help you.
• Your insurance can’t help you. 

This family didn’t take my advice, and paid a big – and sad! – price. But I hope you can learn from their mistake. 

IMPORTANT TRAVEL DOCUMENT ADVICE: 

ALWAYS Renew Your Passport Well Before It’s Within Six Months of Expiration. 

There’s even more than one reason why!

1. Meet Entry Requirements

As in my sad story above, many countries require visitors to have at least six months of validity on their passports from the date of entry. It’s not just a bureaucratic thing: it anticipates situations where a traveler might need to extend their visit (for example because of sickness or an accident or even bad weather) and find themselves with an expired passport. 

For example, destinations like the Schengen Area in Europe, China, Thailand, and several others enforce this rule strictly!

2. Be Prepared for Last-Minute Travel

Travel plans can sometimes come together at the last minute, leaving little time to check passport validity. By renewing your passport early, you eliminate the risk of a travel disruption caused by an expired or soon-to-expire passport. Additionally, emergencies—such as the need to travel for family or work—can arise unexpectedly. Having a passport with adequate validity ensures you're always prepared for such situations.

Not all last-minute travel is negative, either. Hear about an incredible travel deal? Get some unexpected time off? Why not be able to take easy advantage of a spontaneous travel opportunity? 

3. Avoid Being Caught by Passport Processing Delays

This brings us to another reality: backlogs and long wait times for new passports. By renewing early, you avoid the anxiety of potential delays, especially if you have upcoming travel plans. Expedited services may be available, but often come at a high cost and aren’t guaranteed to work within an emergency timeline. In the case of emergency travel, isn’t your documentation the last thing you need to be worrying about? 

Don’t forget, when you apply for a passport, you have to hand the old one in. That means you are without a passport til your new one arrives. And effectively grounded. Don’t get caught! 

4. Comply with Airline Policies

In addition to your travel destination’s government regulations, some airlines have their own policies regarding passport validity. They may refuse to allow passengers to board if their passport doesn’t meet the six-month rule, even if the destination country has no such requirement!

5. Maintain Peace of Mind 

Travel is meant to be exciting and fun. Renewing your passport ahead of time gives you freedom from worry and allows you to focus on the adventure ahead rather than paperwork. Maintaining a passport at all times that has more than six months of validity is a simple step that can save you from stress or even financial losses.

Check your passport today and if it’s nearing the six-month mark – especially if you are booking or already booked for travel – get renewing today!

START YOUR TRIP!

By: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert. 

Image: Getty

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