The expedition date on a passport is the date the passport was issued. The phrase is a direct translation of the Spanish fecha de expedición, which appears on passports from Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and other Spanish-speaking countries. U.S. passports carry the same information under the label “Date of Issue.” Whatever the wording, it marks the day the issuing authority printed and activated the document, and it starts the clock on how long the passport is valid.
Where to Find It on Your Passport
Open to the biographical data page, the one with your photo, full name, date of birth, and passport number. The issue date is printed near those details, usually close to the expiration date. On a U.S. passport it sits on the right side of the data page. Placement varies on passports from other countries, but it always appears on that same main information page, and it’s also encoded in the machine-readable zone at the bottom that border agents scan.
Why the Issue Date Matters
Most travelers watch the expiration date and ignore the issue date. That’s a mistake, because at least two common entry rules key off when the passport was issued.
The Schengen 10-Year Rule
To enter most of Europe, your passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years on the day you cross the border, and it must have at least three months of validity remaining after your planned departure. This applies across the Schengen Area, which covers most EU countries along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.1European Union. Travel Documents for Non-EU Nationals – Your Europe
This is where U.S. travelers get caught. If you renewed early in the past and the State Department added unused months from the old passport onto the new one, your expiration date can sit more than 10 years past the issue date. The passport is technically unexpired, but a Schengen border agent will still refuse entry because it was issued more than a decade ago. Check the issue date, not just the expiration date, before you book.
The Six-Month Validity Rule
Many countries outside Europe require your passport to remain valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, and the U.S. State Department advises confirming this before any international trip.2U.S. Department of State. Age 65+ Travelers The rule keys off the expiration date, but the two dates are linked: knowing when the passport was issued tells you exactly when it expires and whether you clear the threshold.
How Long a Passport Stays Valid From the Issue Date
For U.S. passports, validity depends on how old you were when it was issued:
- Age 16 and older: valid for 10 years from the issue date.
- Age 15 and under: valid for 5 years from the issue date.
A child’s passport expires twice as fast, so parents of frequent travelers need to track the issue date closely.3U.S. Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions About Passport Services
If the Issue Date on Your Passport Is Wrong
Printing errors happen. If the issue date or any other information on the biographical page is incorrect, you can get it corrected at no cost while the passport is still valid. Submit Form DS-5504 by mail along with your current passport, one color photo, and evidence of the correct information.4U.S. Department of State. Change or Correct a Passport
Timing changes what you get back. Report the error within one year of the original issue date and the replacement carries a fresh 10-year validity. Report it after a year and the replacement is only valid until the expiration date of the original passport. There is no fee either way when the mistake is the State Department’s.4U.S. Department of State. Change or Correct a Passport