Which Countries Do Not Require 6 Months of Passport Validity? UK Guide
Travelling abroad from the UK comes with a checklist of requirements—and many countries require foreign travellers to have a certain validity on their passports.
You often need at least six months of validity remaining—and this may be a problem if you need a quick getaway but have only a few months left on your UK passport.
On the other hand, not all countries make the six-month period a requirement—some need only three months (or even less).
Most countries follow similar principles of passport validity requirements and can be divided into three groups: those requiring six and three months, plus certain countries where your passport simply must be valid for the duration of your stay. Finally, some have more specific requirements. Let’s look at each category!
Contents
What Is the Passport Validity Rule?
So, according to the rule, your passport must have a certain period of validity left when you travel internationally, starting either from the date of arrival or departure (this may vary in different countries, but the latter is more often).
If your passport expires within less time after the said date, you may have trouble when crossing the border or boarding an international flight.
During international travel, always check the destination country’s requirements!
Why Are There Passport Validity Requirements?
Countries require this as a precaution. It helps to avoid any invalid passport type of trouble in case a foreign traveller has to stay in the country longer than expected.
UK Passport Requirements for Different Countries
Please note that in most cases your passport must be valid for a certain period from the date of departure from the destination country. However, some countries count from the date of arrival. To be sure, check the individual entry requirements.
Where You Only Need a Passport Valid Through Your Stay
It’s possible to travel to these destinations with a passport that will at least be valid on your last day there.
Africa
- Mauritius
- Tunisia
Asia
- Japan
Australia
- Australia
The Caribbean
- Barbados
- Jamaica
- St Lucia
Europe
- Gibraltar
- Ireland
North America
- Canada (if you have less than six months, passing control may take longer)
- Mexico
- USA (biometric passport required)
South America
- Argentina
- Chile
Where You Need 3 Months of Validity
EU and Schengen
Schengen (except for Ireland) and European countries require you to have only three months left on your passport, counting from the date of departure. Also, your travel document must be less than ten years old when you enter the country.
Eastern Europe
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Hungary
- Poland
- Romania
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
Northern Europe
- Denmark
- Finland
- Iceland
- Norway
- Sweden
Southern Europe
- Andorra
- Cyprus
- Greece
- Italy
- Malta
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Spain
- Vatican City
Western Europe
- Austria
- Belgium
- France
- Germany
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
Non-EU or Schengen
Similar to the European Union countries, these require three months as well (but please note that other requirements may differ).
The Caribbean
- Cuba
North America
- British Virgin Islands
Oceania
- French Polynesia
- New Zealand
Asia
- Kazakhstan
- South Korea
- Uzbekistan
Middle East
- Lebanon
Africa
- Morocco
- Réunion
Where the 6-Month Passport Validity Rule Applies
Finally, here’s the list of countries that need six months on your passport—for you to get the full picture.
Asia
- Cambodia
- China
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- The Maldives
- Mongolia
- Nepal
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Vietnam
The Caribbean
- Antigua and Barbuda
- The Bahamas
- Dominican Republic
Central and South America
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
Europe/Asia
- Russia
Middle East
- Jordan
- Israel
- Oman
- Qatar
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
Oceania
- Fiji
Southern Africa
- Botswana
- Egypt
- Kenya (2 blank passport pages required)
- Madagascar (2 blank passport pages required)
- Namibia (one blank passport page required)
- South Africa (2 blank passport pages required)
- Tanzania
Countries With Other Requirements
- Costa Rica: UK travellers are allowed to visit with a passport that has at least one day’s validity from the date of exit.
- Cyprus: On the whole, you only need three months left on your passport when travelling to Cyprus, but there is an important exception—in case you’re going to the north of the country, no less than six months are required.
- India: Your passport must be valid for a minimum of 180 days, counting from the day you arrive. Plus, it must have two blank pages and be machine-readable.
- New Zealand: Unlike other countries, New Zealand requires that your passport is valid for a minimum of one month, counting from the day of departure.
- South Africa: According to the rules, your passport must be valid for at least 30 days from the date you plan to leave the country. However, it’s recommended to travel there with a passport that has at least six months’ validity. Additionally, there have to be two blank pages for the visa.
Summary
As you see, there are plenty of destinations that don’t require exactly six months on your current passport. But the rules may change over time—wherever you’re going, be sure to double-check if the country you’re going to has the same requirements. If in doubt, you can also seek expert advice on the UK government website or with HM passport office workers.
If the expiration date on your old passport is too soon, be mindful of the renewal times. Processing your passport application takes several weeks, so make sure that all information is filled out correctly and the image is per the official passport photo requirements and size before submitting it. Better safe than sorry!