Passport Validity Checker for Europe
Check in seconds whether your passport is valid for a trip to Europe. Enter your passport dates and your travel dates, and the checker applies both Schengen passport rules, shows the last day you can leave Europe, and tells you when to renew. Everything runs in your browser.
Is my passport valid for Europe?
For the 29 Schengen countries, including France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Greece.
Your passport
Your trip
Use the date you leave the Schengen Area for the last time on this trip.
A planning aid, not legal advice. Border officers make the final decision, and airlines can apply stricter rules. Check the State Department page for your destination before you travel.
What are the passport rules for Europe?
To enter the Schengen Area, a US passport must meet two rules from Article 6 of the Schengen Borders Code. It must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave, and it must have been issued within the previous 10 years.
- The 3-month rule counts from the day you leave the Schengen Area, not the day you arrive.
- The 10-year rule catches passports that were extended or that have an unusual validity. A US adult passport is valid for exactly 10 years, so in practice the 3-month rule decides most cases.
- The 6-month advice is not a Schengen law, but the US State Department recommends at least six months of validity, and some airlines check for it.
How long is a US passport good for?
A US passport is valid for 10 years if you were 16 or older when it was issued, and for 5 years if you were under 16, according to the State Department. The expiration date is printed on the photo page. For travel to Europe, think of your passport as expiring 3 months early, because that is the last day you can leave the Schengen Area with it.
| Passport | Valid for | Last day to leave Europe |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (issued at 16 or older) | 10 years | 3 months before it expires |
| Child (issued under 16) | 5 years | 3 months before it expires |
A worked example
Say your passport expires on August 20, 2027 and you plan a trip to Italy from May 1 to May 25, 2027.
- Add 3 months to your departure date: May 25, 2027 plus 3 months is August 25, 2027.
- Your passport expires on August 20, 2027, five days too early.
- The trip fails the Schengen rule. You would need to renew first, or end the trip by May 20, 2027.
What about the UK and Ireland?
The UK and Ireland are not in the Schengen Area and have simpler rules. Your passport must be valid for the whole of your stay in the UK and for the duration of your stay in Ireland. Americans also need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before visiting the UK.
Common mistakes
- Counting from the arrival date. The 3 months run from the day you leave Europe.
- Forgetting connections. A layover in Frankfurt or Paris on the way to Asia or Africa still means passport control in the Schengen Area.
- Renewing too late. Processing times change during the year. Check the current processing times and leave extra time for mailing.
- Long stays. If you plan to stay close to 90 days, check your dates with our Schengen 90/180 day calculator too.
Frequently asked questions
Can I travel to Europe if my passport expires in 6 months?
Usually yes. The Schengen rule only requires 3 months of validity after the day you leave Europe. If your passport expires 6 months after your return, you meet it. The US State Department still recommends six months of validity, and some airlines check for it, so renewing first is the safer choice if your trip is close to the limit.
How long is a passport good for?
A US passport issued when you were 16 or older is good for 10 years. A passport issued to a child under 16 is good for 5 years. For a trip to the Schengen Area, the passport must still be valid for at least 3 months after the day you leave, so in practice it stops working for Europe 3 months before the printed expiration date.
Which countries do not require 6 months of passport validity?
The 29 Schengen countries require 3 months of validity after your departure, not 6. The UK and Ireland only require your passport to be valid for the length of your stay. Rules outside Europe vary, so check the State Department country page for each destination on your trip.
Do passports expire?
Yes. Every US passport has an expiration date printed on the photo page, 10 years after issue for adults and 5 years for children under 16. An expired passport cannot be used for travel, and for Europe it effectively stops working 3 months earlier because of the Schengen validity rule.