Passport validity is the length of time a passport can be used to travel to another country, or be used as a valid form of identification within or outside the issuing country before its date of expiration.
There is an increasing trend for adult passports to be valid for ten years, such as a United Kingdom passport, United States Passport, New Zealand Passport (after 30 November 2015) [1] or Australian passport. A five year period of validity is also common as used to be the situation for a Papua New Guinean passport.
Some countries issue adult passports for periods between five and ten years, such as the Cuban passport, which is valid for six years.
Unless otherwise limited, US adult passports in the late 20th century used to expire three years after their issue date, or after 5 years if they had been renewed.
Some countries allow adult applicants to choose a passport validity, usually 5 or 10 years, at a varying price scale, e.g. costing more for 10 years than 5 years. These countries include Canada, Hungary, Japan, Mexico (1, 3, 6, or 10), Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey and Bangladesh. [2]
Most countries issue passports for children and young adults for five years, under passport issuing protocols a child or young adult passport is defined as being under 16 years for a United States Passport, under 19 years for a Japanese Passport, under 21 years for a Croatian passport, under 24 years for a German passport or under 30 years as is the case with a Spanish passport.
Because children change rapidly in appearance from infancy to age five, some countries issue infant passports for two years, such as the Austrian passport, or for one year in the case of the Republic of Korea passport.
Many countries require passports to have a remaining validity of six months or more on the date of arrival.
Countries requiring passport validity of at least 6 months on arrival include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq (except when arriving at Basra - 3 months and Erbil or Sulaimaniyah - on arrival), Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam
Countries requiring passport validity of at least 4 months on arrival include Micronesia, Zambia
Countries requiring passport validity of at least 3 months on arrival include Schengen Area countries, Georgia, Honduras, Iceland, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Moldova, Nauru, Panama, United Arab Emirates
And countries requiring passport validity of at least 1 month on arrival include Philippines, Eritrea, Hong Kong, Macao, New Zealand, South Africa. [3]
Other countries require either a passport valid on arrival or passport valid throughout the period of intended stay.
Most visitors to Indonesia may obtain a visa on arrival to Indonesia, unless they are a citizen of one of the visa-exempt countries. However, some countries must obtain a visa in advance from one of the Indonesian diplomatic missions before being allowed to enter Indonesia.
Visa requirements for Afghan citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Afghanistan.
Visa requirements for Pakistani citizens are the requirements by other countries to obtain a visa before entry on an ordinary Pakistani Passport.
Visa requirements for Indonesian citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of Indonesia by the authorities of other states.
Visa requirements for Iraqi citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Iraq.
Visa requirements for Costa Rican citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Costa Rica.
Visa requirements for Democratic Republic of the Congo citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Visa requirements for Swiss citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Switzerland.
Visa requirements for Paraguayan citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed by the authorities of foreign states on citizens of Paraguay.
Visitors to the Dominican Republic must obtain a visa from one of the Dominican Republic diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries.
Visa requirements for Comorian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Comoros.
Visitors to Chile must obtain a visa from one of the Chilean diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries.
Visa requirements for Liechtenstein citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Liechtenstein. As of March 2023, Liechtenstein citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 180 countries and territories, ranking the Liechtenstein passport 12th in terms of travel freedom overall, and the lowest of the EFTA member states, according to the Henley Passport Index.
Visitors to El Salvador must obtain a visa from one of the Salvadoran diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.
The British Overseas Territories maintain their own entry requirements different from the visa policy of the United Kingdom. As a general rule, British citizens do not have automatic right of abode in these territories.
Visa requirements for Central African citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Central African Republic. As of 2 July 2019, Central African Republic citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 49 countries and territories, ranking the Central African passport 94th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
Visa requirements for crew members are administrative entry restrictions imposed by countries on members of the crew during transit or turnaround.
Visa requirements for Chad citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the Chad. As of 2 July 2019, Chadian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 51 countries and territories, ranking the Chadian passport 92nd in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
Many countries have entry restrictions on foreigners that go beyond the common requirement of having either a valid visa or a visa exemption. Such restrictions may be health related or impose additional documentation requirements on certain classes of people for diplomatic or political purposes.