How do I know if my passport is okay to travel with?

Is Your Passport Ready for Travel?

Before you pack your bags, make sure your passport won’t ground your plans. A common mistake travelers make is assuming that as long as their passport hasn’t expired, it’s fine to use. But that’s not always the case—especially when heading into Europe.

Here’s what you need to check: First, your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your trip. Some countries, including those in the EU, require that you have at least three months of validity remaining beyond your planned departure date. So even if your passport doesn’t expire until a month after you return, it might not meet requirements—check that expiration date carefully.

Another often-overlooked rule applies to the age of your passport. If you're traveling to an EU country, your passport must have been issued less than 10 years ago—yes, even if it's still valid. That means if your current passport was stamped five years ago, but you originally got it 11 years back, you may be turned away at the border, no matter the expiry date.

So pull out your passport and look at two dates: when it was issued and when it expires. If it was issued over a decade ago, or if it expires within three months of your return, it’s time to renew. Better to sort it now than face delays—or worse, denial—at the airport.

Traveling should be stress-free, and a little prep goes a long way. Keep these rules in mind, and you’ll breeze through border control with confidence.