A U.S. passport lasts ten years if it was issued when you were 16 or older, and five years if it was issued to a child under 16.1eCFR. 22 CFR 51.4 – Validity of Passports That answers how long U.S. passports last on paper. In practice, the usable life is shorter, because many countries won’t admit you unless your passport stays valid for at least six months past your travel dates. The exact expiration date is printed inside the front cover of the book, so you never have to calculate it yourself.
Ten Years for Adults
If you were at least 16 on the day your passport was issued, it’s good for ten years from that issue date. The rule is set by federal regulation and applies to the vast majority of applicants, though the State Department can issue a passport with shorter validity in limited circumstances.1eCFR. 22 CFR 51.4 – Validity of Passports
The passport card follows the same schedule. An adult passport card is also valid for ten years.2Travel.State.Gov. Get a Passport Card Where the card differs from the book is in where you can use it, not how long it lasts.
Five Years for Children Under 16
A passport issued to a child under 16 is valid for five years.1eCFR. 22 CFR 51.4 – Validity of Passports The shorter window exists because children’s faces change quickly enough to make an older photo unreliable for identification.
One point that catches families off guard: if your child turns 16 while their five-year passport is still valid, the passport does not convert to a ten-year document. It keeps the expiration date printed inside. Once it expires, the now-older applicant can apply for a full ten-year passport.3Travel.State.Gov. Apply for Your Passport as a 16-17 Year Old A passport issued under age 16 also can’t be renewed by mail, so a teenager getting their first ten-year book will need to apply in person.
The Six-Month Rule Foreign Countries Enforce
Your passport might technically be valid for another four months, but that doesn’t mean a foreign country will let you in. Many nations require your passport to remain valid for at least six months beyond your planned travel dates, and some airlines will refuse to board you if your passport doesn’t meet the destination country’s requirement.4U.S. Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions About Passport Services
The buffer accounts for unexpected delays. If a medical emergency, missed flight, or visa complication extends your stay, neither you nor the host country wants to deal with an expired document. The State Department publishes country-by-country entry requirements at travel.state.gov, and checking before booking is the simplest way to avoid a problem at the gate.
This is where most travelers get caught. A passport with nine months left feels perfectly fine until you realize your destination requires six months of validity and your trip is four months away. Between the six-month rule and renewal processing time, the math often doesn’t work. Treat the last several months of your passport’s life as a renewal window rather than usable travel time.
When to Start the Renewal Clock
Routine passport processing takes four to six weeks, and expedited processing takes two to three weeks. Neither figure includes mailing, which can add up to two weeks in each direction.5U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports A routine mail-in application can therefore take roughly ten weeks door to door.
Adding that timeline to the six-month foreign-entry rule means an international traveler should really start renewing about nine months before the printed expiration date. If you renew online, be aware that the option only offers routine processing, with no expedited path.6U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport Online
Second Passport Books Are Shorter
The standard ten-year rule has one common exception worth flagging. The State Department will issue a second, concurrent passport book to certain travelers, such as those whose stamps from one country would cause problems entering another, or frequent international travelers whose primary passport is often tied up in visa processing. A second passport book is valid for four years or less, not ten, and the State Department does not issue second passport cards.7U.S. Department of State. Applying for a Second Passport Book
Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Passports End Early
A passport’s printed expiration isn’t the only thing that can end its life. Once a passport is reported lost or stolen, it is permanently canceled and can’t be used again even if it turns up later.8U.S. Department of State. Report Your Passport Lost or Stolen You then apply for a brand-new passport in person rather than renewing.
Damage also cuts a passport’s usable life short. The State Department considers a passport damaged if it has water damage or mold, a significant tear, unofficial markings on the data page, missing visa pages, or a hole punch. Normal wear, like a slight bend or fanning visa pages, doesn’t count.4U.S. Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions About Passport Services A damaged passport must be replaced with a new in-person application; it can’t be renewed by mail. If you’re unsure whether yours qualifies as damaged versus well-traveled, replacing it early is safer than being turned away at the airport.