My passport is expiring in two months. It’s still a valid passport, right?

Your passport might not have expired yet, but many countries around the world insist that you have at least three to six months validity remaining on your passport. This is commonly referred to as the “six month rule.” Some countries enforce this rule by requiring that you have at least six months validity on your passport when you enter the country, and others want to see that you will still have at least six months left at the time you are scheduled to leave.

Unfortunately, travelers get caught out by the six month rule every day. One Californian couple recently was featured on the evening news with their tale. They were denied boarding of their flight to France because their passports had less than six months validity remaining. They had to delay their trip until they could renew their passports, while the 8 friends they were traveling with went on without them.

If you’re traveling soon, you can check whether your destination country enforces the six month rule by visiting the State Department’s Country Specific Information website.

My passport is out of blank pages. Is it still valid?

It’s a lot of fun to collect passport stamps… until the day you discover that your passport has run out of blank pages.   Your passport contains two types of blank pages. The ones at the back of the book, marked “Endorsements,” are meant for the use of the US State Department only. All the other blank pages are labeled “Visas.” These are the pages that are used for travel visas and entry and exit stamps.

As a rule of thumb, you’ll need at least one blank visa page in your passport for every country you will visit. If you need to get a travel visa for your destination, you should have two blank pages, one for the visa and one for your entry and exit stamps.

If you run out of blank pages, your passport will need to be renewed in order to be fully valid for travel.

I’ve changed my name. Can I still travel with my valid passport that shows my old name?

If you’ve legally changed your name, you should update the name on your current valid passport. For passports that were issued less than one year ago, you can use the special “re-application” name change procedure. Passports that were issued more than one year ago need to be renewed to change the name.

However, if you have to travel immediately after changing your name — for instance, if you’ve just gotten married and are planning an international honeymoon — you can still travel with the passport showing your old name. Just make sure that your plane tickets are booked with the same name shown on your passport, and get a passport with your new name after you get home!

My valid passport has been damaged. Can I use it for travel?

Passports that have seen better days can cause serious problems for travelers. Even minor damage, like mildew spots or threads hanging from the cover, can be cause for an airline to refuse to let you board! This recently happened to comedian Jordan Peele. A Transportation Security Administration agent turned him around and did not allow him to board his flight to London for his honeymoon because his passport was damaged.

Serious damage to your passport, like a torn or missing cover, ripped pages, or unauthorized markings on the information page, automatically makes your passport invalid, even if you still have lots of time left before it expires.  Badly damaged passports have to be replaced using the mutilated passport procedure. But if your passport is just starting to look shabby, it’s a good idea to renew it so you’ll have a fresh, crisp book that will be accepted everywhere.

Our Top Tips to Keep Your Valid Passport Ready for Travel

• Keep an eye on your passport’s expiration date, and renew it at least six months before it expires.
• Flip through your passport and make sure you have plenty of blank pages.
• Frequent flyer? You can request a large 52-page book when you renew. These are issued at no additional fee, at government discretion.
• Protect your passport from damage by keeping it inside a protective case.

If you need to renew or replace your passport for any reason, G3passports.com is here to help!

The post How to Check if a Passport is Valid For Travel appeared first on G3Passports.

Are You Eligible for a Passport Renewal?

The first thing to do is to make sure that your passport can be renewed. All of the followings must be true!

1. Your current passport must have been issued after you turned 16.

If you were under 16 when your last passport was issued, you’ll need to use the New Adult Passport procedure to get a new passport… unless you are still under 16, in which case you’ll need a Minor Passport.

2. Your passport must have been issued no more than 15 years ago.

If it’s been more than five years since your passport expired, you are required to use the New Adult Passport service to get a new passport.

3. Your passport must have been issued for 10 years validity.

If you were issued a limited-validity passport, such as an emergency replacement for a passport lost overseas, please contact G3 for special assistance to get a new passport.

4. Your passport must be in good condition.

If your passport has a loose or missing cover, tears or cuts on the cover or any page, or other severe damage, you’ll need to do a Mutilated Passport Replacement instead of a Passport Renewal.

5. Your passport must be in your possession.

You’ll need to submit your current passport book in order to renew it. If you can’t find your passport, you can get a new passport through the Lost Passport Replacement process.

How to Renew Your Passport with G3

With G3, your passport renewal is swift and simple!

1. Place your order online, selecting the processing speed you’ll need.
2. We’ll email you a detailed checklist of all the documents you’ll need to send in, including a link to fill out your passport application.
3. You’ll be directed to call G3 to go over the checklist with a passport associate. Your passport associate will answer all your questions and will email you a FedEx airbill to use to send in your renewal request.
4. Send all your passport renewal documents to G3 using the provided FedEx airbill. You can drop off your FedEx package at any FedEx office or FedEx box.
5. We’ll hand-carry your passport renewal request into the Passport Agency for expedited processing.
6. Your new passport will be sent back to you via FedEx! You’ll get an email when your passport is complete to let you know it is on the way. This email will contain the FedEx tracking number for your package.

What Documents Do You Need for Your Passport Renewal?

Here’s the good news — you don’t need to supply as many documents for your passport renewal as you did to get your passport for the first time.

We’ll send you a detailed checklist of all the items you’ll need when you place your order.

Here’s a sneak preview of what you’ll need for your passport renewal.

• Your expired or expiring passport book
• Form DS-82, the passport renewal application. You’ll fill this out online and print it out.
• A signed Letter of Authorization — this allows us to submit your application to the Passport Agency on your behalf. We’ll send you the Letter of Authorization via email.
• A new passport-style photo. Make sure not to wear glasses, uniforms, or headgear in the photo!
• Proof of your upcoming travel plans.
• A check or money order for your government fees.

The post Passport Renewal Made Easy! appeared first on G3Passports.

Check Your Passports

There are three things you should check on your passport to make sure it is fully valid for travel:

• Validity. How long do you have left before your passport expires? Many countries require you to have at least six months validity remaining, and won’t let you enter if your passport is close to expiring. Remember to check the kids’ passports, too — passports for children under age 16 are only valid for 5 years instead of 10.
• Blank Pages. Look for blank pages marked “Visas.” This will be used for the entry stamp when you arrive. You’ll need at least one of these blank pages for every country you will fly into. The pages at the back of your passport marked “Endorsements” do not count!
• Condition. Is your passport still in good shape? Badly damaged passports are not valid for travel. Heavy water damage, a loose cover, torn or missing pages, or peeling plastic film are all reasons your passport could be considered invalid.

If your passport is close to expiring or running out of blank pages, G3 can assist you with a passport renewal. Damaged passports will need to be replaced using the mutilated passport procedure. Can’t find your passport at all? We can help with that, too.

Passport Requirements for Summer Travel Destinations

Wondering what the passport requirements are for the country you’ll visit this summer? Below, we’ve listed the specific passport requirements for some popular destinations. If the nation you’ll visit isn’t listed here, you can visit the US State Department’s Country Specific Information page to find out how much passport validity and how many blank passport pages you will need for your trip.

• Mexico: Your passport must be valid for at least six months past the end of your trip, and must have at least one blank page. If you are driving into Mexico, you can use either a passport book or passport card.
• Jamaica: Your passport must be valid at the time of entry and must have at least one blank page.
• Canada: Your passport must be valid at the time of entry and must have at least one blank page. If you are driving into Canada, you can use either a passport book or passport card.
• United Kingdom: Your passport must be valid for the full duration of your stay and must have at least one blank page.
• France: Your passport must be valid for at least six months past the end of your trip, and must have at least one blank page.
• Italy: Your passport must have at least one blank visa page and must be valid for at least three months past the end of your stay in Europe.
• South Africa: Your passport must have at least two blank pages side-by-side for each entry into South Africa, and must be valid for at least 30 days past the end of your trip.
• Puerto Rico: No passport required! Puerto Rico is a US territory, so US citizens can enter without a passport.

The post Do You Need a Passport for Your Summer Travel? appeared first on G3Passports.