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.

Your very first step will be to get your passport out. This in itself is an important passport check! Too many people discover at the last moment that they can’t find their passport.

Do you have your passport in hand? Great! Let’s get started.

Passport Check 1: When will your passport expire?

Start your passport check on the page with your photo. Check the expiration date of your passport. You’ll want to make sure it isn’t expired already, of course! But how much validity does it have left? Some countries want you to have a minimum of six months validity on your passport. This is known as the “six month rule.” There are also countries that have different passport validity requirements. For instance, most of the countries in Europe require that your passport be valid for at least three months. If your passport is expiring in the next few months, check to see if your destination requires you to have a certain minimum validity.

Passport Check 2: Is your passport signed?

While you are on the page with your photo, check and make sure your passport is signed. Your passport should be signed to be fully valid for travel. If it isn’t signed, use blue or black ink and sign it with your full name as printed in your passport.

Checking your child’s passport? Kids need their passports to be signed, too. If your child is too young to sign for herself, you can sign for her. Sign both her name and your name, such as “Amelia Jane Smith by John Robert Smith, father.”

Passport Check 3: Is your passport in good condition?

A worn-out or damaged passport doesn’t just look bad. It could be reason for you to be denied boarding of your flight, or turned away from your destination! Do a quick passport check to make sure your passport is in good shape. Inspect your passport closely and look for damage like:

• A loose or detached cover
• Torn or cut pages
• Water damage
• Any unauthorized marking

Passport Check 4: Does your passport have blank pages?

You will need to have at least one blank page marked “visas.” This will be used for your entry and exit stamps. Some countries require you to have more than one blank page for every visit.

Double check to make sure your blank pages say “visas.” The pages at the back of your passport are for US State Department use only.

Passport Check 5: Is this your passport?

Before you head out the door, it’s time for one last passport check. Open up your passport and make sure that the passport you grabbed is yours! Everyone’s passport looks the same on the outside. It would be easy enough to mix things up and head to the airport with your son’s passport instead of your own.

Don’t laugh, it happens more often than you think. There have been quite a few news stories of British travelers who have flown using the wrong passport, including at least two men who flew to Germany using their girlfriend’s passport instead of their own!

If you need a passport renewal or replacement of a lost or damaged passport in a hurry, G3 can help!

The post Traveling for the Holidays? Time for a Passport Check! appeared first on G3Passports.

Understand the Rules – When Are You Allowed to Renew Your Passport?

The US State Department has firm rules about when passports can be renewed.  Your passport must be renewed no more than five years after it expires.  You can also think about this based on the date of issue of your passport.  Your passport can be renewed up until fifteen years after the day it was issued.  If you let your passport remain expired for more than five years, you will need to apply for a new passport instead of a passport renewal.

How Early Can You Renew Your Passport?

There’s really no such thing as “too early” to renew your passport. In most cases, passports are renewed within a year of the expiration date.  However, there are a lot of reasons that a passport may be renewed earlier:

• Passport has run out of blank visa pages.
• Traveler’s appearance has changed significantly.
• Passport is worn and not in good condition.
• Traveler has had a legal name change.
• Traveler wishes to apply for a long-term visa.
• Traveler has Israeli entry stamps in the passport, and now plans to visit a country like Iran or Sudan that forbids entry if there are Israel marks in the passport. (A second valid passport can also be issued in this case.)

Why Should You Renew Your Passport Six Months Before It Expires?

At G3, we always recommend that you renew your passport no later than six months before it expires.  Why?  It’s because of what’s known as the “six month rule.”  Many countries, including popular destinations like Italy, require that your passport have at least six months validity remaining.  If you don’t have at least six months left before your passport expires, you won’t be allowed to enter.  You might not even be allowed to board your flight!

We want to make sure that your passport is always valid for any trip you might want to take.  After all, if your richest friend calls you up and says “come to the airport, we’ve got an extra seat available on my private jet,” you don’t want to say no because your passport is about to expire!

Keeping at least six months validity on your passport at all times is especially important for business travelers.  Important overseas meetings could pop up at any time.  You and your passport should both always be ready to travel!

Consider Your Travel Plans To Choose the Right Time to Renew Your Passport

Now that you know that you should renew your passport at least six months before it expires, think about your upcoming travel plans.  It might be November now, but it’s not too early to consider whether you may be traveling internationally next summer.  Think about when you may be traveling, and when you will be likely to be staying at home.  Choose one of those down times between trips to renew your passport before it expires.

Need to Renew Your Passport in a Hurry?

Sometimes, the answer to “when should you renew your passport?” is NOW!  If you are in a rush to get your passport renewed, G3passports.com is here to help.  Just place your order online, and we can have your passport renewed in as little as two business days.

The post When Is The Right Time to Renew Your Passport? appeared first on G3Passports.