Six months from arrival, or after you leave? Passport validity rules compared

"Your passport must be valid for six months." You've probably heard that rule. But six months from when? From the day you arrive, or from the day you leave? On a three-week trip, that's a three-week difference in how long your passport needs to last.

Countries say it differently, and the wording matters. Here's how the rules compare in the countries we've checked.

Why the reference date matters

Take a trip from 1 to 20 November 2026. Your passport must still be valid on:

• 6 months from arrival: 1 May 2027
• 6 months after you leave: 20 May 2027
• 3 months from arrival: 1 February 2027
• 3 months after you leave: 20 February 2027
• 60 days after your stay: 19 January 2027
• for the whole stay: 20 November 2026

6 months from the day you arrive

The most common rule, in Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Peru, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Vietnam.

6 months after you leave

• Philippines: at least 6 months beyond your intended stay.

3 months

• Israel: at least three months from the date of arrival.
• The Schengen Area: at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave, and issued within the last 10 years. This comes from the Schengen Borders Code.
• New Zealand: at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave.
• Montenegro: at least 3 months after your planned departure, and issued within the last 10 years.
• Albania: Albania's own visa rules say at least 3 months after the date you leave, and issued within the last 10 years.

60 days after your stay

• Turkey: at least 60 days beyond the length of your stay, under Law No. 6458, Article 7.1(b).

Valid for the whole stay

• United Kingdom, Chile and Colombia: your passport must be valid for the whole of your stay.

When the rule doesn't say from when

Some official sources only say "valid for at least 6 months" without saying from which date. In those cases, we don't guess. Count from the day you leave, and you'll meet either reading.

Check your own dates

Trip Check and each country's entry-requirements page now include a passport check. Enter your arrival date, departure date and passport expiry date, and it tells you whether your passport meets the rule. The dates stay in your browser.