A U.S. passport expires on the date printed on its data page, which is calculated from the day it was issued, not from your birthday. Whether your passport expires on your birthday or on the issue date is a common question, and the answer is the issue date: an adult passport (issued at age 16 or older) is valid for 10 years from issuance, and a child’s passport (issued under age 16) is valid for 5 years.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 22 U.S. Code 217a – Validity of Passport; Limitation of Time A passport issued on March 15, 2018 expires on March 15, 2028, no matter when your birthday falls.
Where to Find Your Actual Expiration Date
Open your passport to the data page with your photo. The expiration date is printed there next to the issue date. That printed date is the only one that matters. Ten years from issuance for adults, five years for children under 16 at the time of issuance.2U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s Passport Under 16 Passports issued to 16- and 17-year-olds get the full 10-year validity, even though the applicant is still a minor.3USAGov. Get a Passport for a Minor Under 18
The birthday confusion probably comes from driver’s licenses, which do expire on your birthday in most states. Passports work differently. Check the data page rather than assuming your birthday is the deadline.
Why a “Valid” Passport Can Still Be Rejected
The date on your passport isn’t always the effective deadline for travel. Many countries require your passport to remain valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay, not just past your entry date.4U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Six-Month Validity Update If your passport expires in four months and you’re planning a two-week trip to Thailand, you won’t be allowed in.
The State Department advises American travelers to keep their passports valid for at least six months after their planned return.5U.S. Department of State. Age 65+ Travelers – Section: Passport and Visa Requirements Countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America commonly apply the six-month standard.
Schengen Area: Three Months, Plus a 10-Year Cap
European countries in the Schengen Area use a shorter buffer. Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from the EU, and it must have been issued within the previous 10 years.6U.S. Department of State. U.S. Travelers in Europe – Section: Schengen Entry and Exit Requirements The second part catches people off guard. Even if your passport hasn’t expired, it can be rejected at a Schengen border if the issue date is more than 10 years old, which can happen when a passport was renewed early and given extra validity beyond the standard term.
Countries That Don’t Require Extra Validity
Not every destination enforces the six-month rule. The U.S. maintains a list of countries whose citizens only need a passport valid for the duration of their stay, including Canada, the United Kingdom, most of the EU, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and dozens of others.4U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Six-Month Validity Update For travel in the other direction, each country sets its own policy. Check the specific entry requirements before you book.
What Happens at the Airport
Airlines check passport validity before you board. If your document doesn’t meet the destination’s rules, the gate agent will deny boarding, and no refund is guaranteed. Airlines face fines for transporting passengers who get turned away at immigration, so validity enforcement at the gate is strict.
Renewing Before the Printed Date Becomes a Problem
Because the six-month rule effectively shortens your usable validity, most travelers should start renewing about nine months before the printed expiration date, especially if a trip is coming up.
How to Renew
You can renew by mail using Form DS-82 if your most recent passport was issued within the last 15 years, issued when you were 16 or older, is undamaged, was never reported lost or stolen, and is in your current name (or you can document a legal name change).7U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport by Mail Miss any of those and you have to apply in person on Form DS-11 as if it were a first-time passport.
Online renewal is also available, but with tighter rules: you must be 25 or older, your passport must be expiring within one year or have expired less than five years ago, you can’t be changing your name or personal details, and you must be in a U.S. state or territory when you submit. Only routine processing is offered online, and your current passport is canceled the moment you submit, so don’t renew online with a trip on the calendar.8U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport Online
Fees and Processing
As of 2026, an adult passport book renewal is $130, a passport card renewal is $30, and renewing both together is $160. Expedited processing adds $60 per application.9U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
Routine processing runs four to six weeks; expedited service runs two to three weeks.10U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports Those windows don’t include mailing time in either direction. The State Department estimates up to two weeks for your application to arrive and another two weeks for the finished passport to reach you, so the realistic total for routine service is closer to eight to ten weeks from the day you drop it in the mail.
If You’re Traveling Very Soon
If your international trip is within 14 calendar days, or you need a foreign visa within 28 days, you can book an appointment at a passport agency for same-day or next-day processing.11U.S. Department of State. Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency Appointments fill quickly during the spring and summer travel peak, so call as early as your dates allow.