Passport Information – Important

Read about passport information.

The U.S. Department of State has requested our assistance in getting the word out on an important international travel issue.  Specifically, we are reminding our clients traveling internationally that they should closely monitor the validity of their own and their family members’ passports. Many countries throughout the world require travelers’ passports to have at least six months’ validity at the time of entry. If a traveler’s passport does not meet this requirement, a traveler may be refused boarding by an airline at the point of departure or even while transferring planes in another country. Travelers could also be denied entry upon arrival in a foreign country.

Families traveling with children should check their children’s passports before traveling also.  Remember that passports issued to children under the age of 16 are valid for five years, while an adult passport is valid for 10 years.

The State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs recommends that U.S. citizens always travel internationally with a passport that has six months’ validity remaining, regardless of the destination. International travelers are strongly encouraged to check exit, entry, and visa requirements of individual countries on the Consular Affairs website. Travelers should also remember to check the specific entry requirement for any transit country en route to their destination, such as that for an airport layover.

If U.S. citizen travelers are denied entry to a country while abroad and need a new passport immediately, they should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Travelers denied boarding in the U.S. and needing an immediate passport can call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 to schedule an appointment at one of 28 passport agencies around the country.

For more on this issue about this important passport information, visit http://travel.state.gov/.