Many travelers think that it is enough to have a valid passport to board abroad, but several countries require this document to be valid longer than the duration of the trip. In the case of Europe, for example, the Schengen space requires the passport to have at least three months of validity after the expected departure date, according to HuffPost.
This is what almost prevented an American from watching a wedding in Italy, the same source says. He thought that, having a passport valid until September, he could travel quietly in July. However, because he was about to enter a Schengen area, he needed at least three more months beyond the date of return. Fortunately, he was able to renew the document in time.
Cases like this are more common than one thinks and often result from ignorance of the specific rules of each destination.
Three, six or more months?
Katy Nastro, spokesman for the Going Flight Alert Platform, explains that having a valid passport does not mean being able to travel to any destination. “Many countries require the passport to be additional in addition to the dates of the trip,” he said, cited by the same source.
In the case of destinations in Asia or the Middle East, it is often required a validity of six months after the date of exit. A traveler with tickets for Vietname in July, for example, needs the passport to be valid by at least January of the following year.
There are cases where airlines themselves refuse to let passengers not comply with this rule, which can completely ruin travel plans.
Each country has its rules
David Alwadish, founder of the Itseasy.com visa and passport company, underlines, cited by the same source, that there is no unique criterion. “Some countries require three months, another six, and some may even ask for a year of expiration, especially when there are wide validity visas,” he explained.
The requirements vary depending on bilateral agreements, immigration policies and security issues. Therefore, verifying the entry requirements of the destination country can be essential before buying tickets or setting accommodation.
Both Alwadish and Nastro admit that many travelers are unaware of these requirements, especially those who travel little or have never faced this kind of problem.
Why do so many months of validity require?
The main reason, according to the, is the prevention of unforeseen events. An initially short stay may be extended for health reasons, plans or even accidents. If the passport expires during this period, serious legal and bureaucratic problems may arise when leaving the country.
“It’s a matter of precaution,” summarizes Nastro. Having a prolonged passport can avoid unexpected complications and ensure greater safety in emergency situations.
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