When your passport expires, the 6-month rule, and how to renew
Short answer. A US passport is good for 10 years if you were 16 or older when it was issued, and 5 years if you were younger. The date that matters for a trip is often earlier than the one printed on it: some countries and airlines turn you away if your passport expires in less than six months, and the EU wants it to be good for three months after you leave. You can renew by mail or online, even after it has expired, if you got it at 16 or older and it was issued within the last 15 years.
At a glance
| Issued at 16 or older | Issued under 16 | |
|---|---|---|
| Good for | 10 years | 5 years |
| Passport card | 10 years | 5 years |
| Can you renew it? | Yes, by mail or online, if issued within the last 15 years and the other conditions below are met | No. Apply again in person with Form DS-11. |
| Fee (book) | $130 to renew | $135 for a new one, including the $35 acceptance fee |
| Faster service | Expedited processing is $60 more | |
The 6-month rule: how much validity your trip needs
The expiration date on your passport is not the date you can travel until. USA.gov warns that some countries and airlines won't let a US passport holder enter if the passport expires in less than six months. Rules differ by destination:
- Six months: some countries, and some airlines, won't let you in or on board if your passport expires in less than six months. How the six months are counted differs, so read the rule for your country.
- The EU: your passport must be good for at least three months after the day you plan to leave, and it must have been issued within the last 10 years.
- How to check your destination: open the State Department's country information page , search for the country, and look for "passport validity" or "entry and exit requirements".
A simple habit: when you book a trip, add six months to your return date and compare it with the date on your passport. If the passport runs out first, renew before you go.
Can you renew, or do you need a new passport?
You can renew by mail with Form DS-82, or online if you meet the State Department's requirements, unless any of these is true. Then you apply for a new passport in person with Form DS-11:
- It was issued before your 16th birthday.
- It was issued more than 15 years ago.
- It is damaged, lost or stolen.
- It was issued in a previous name and you don't have a legal document, such as a marriage certificate, that shows the name change.
Already expired? You can still renew it the normal way, as long as it was issued within the last 15 years.
Know your passport's date before you book.
GoodThru keeps your passport number and expiration date encrypted on your iPhone and reminds you months before it runs out, early enough to renew before your next trip.
How to renew an adult passport
- Check processing times first. They change during the year. See the State Department's current processing times and decide whether you need expedited service.
- Online: you may be able to renew your book, card or both through the State Department's Online Passport Renewal System , the only authorized place to renew online, if you meet its requirements.
- By mail: fill out Form DS-82, add a passport photo, the fee and your most recent passport, plus name change documents if needed. The State Department's renewal page has the mailing addresses.
- Plan to be without a passport for a while. When you renew by mail you send your current passport in. It comes back separately, usually about four weeks after the new one arrives. Once the new passport is issued, the old one is cancelled.
- Kids under 16: no renewal. They apply in person, and a parent (preferably both) must be present and sign the application.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Adult passport book, renewal | $130 |
| Adult passport card, renewal | $30 |
| Adult passport book, first time (in person) | $165 |
| Child passport book, under 16 (in person) | $135 |
| Expedited service | +$60 |
| Name change within a year of issue | No fee |
Fees from the federal schedule of consular fees (22 CFR 22.1) as of November 13, 2026. The first-time and child amounts include the $35 acceptance fee. Confirm on the State Department's fees page before you pay.
If your passport is lost or stolen
Report it to the State Department right away: online with Form DS-64, or by phone at 1-877-487-2778. Once it's reported, the passport is invalidated and you can't use it, even if you find it later. Not sure of the number? See where to find your passport number. Inside the US you replace it in person with Form DS-11; abroad, contact the nearest US embassy or consulate.
Questions
How long is a US passport good for?
Ten years if you were 16 or older when it was issued, five years if you were under 16. The same applies to the passport card.
Can I travel if my passport expires in less than six months?
It depends on where you're going. Some countries and airlines won't let you in or on board if your passport expires in less than six months. Others, like the EU, need three months after the day you leave. Check your destination's page on travel.state.gov before you book.
Can I renew an expired passport?
Yes, by mail or online, if it was issued within the last 15 years, you were 16 or older when it was issued, it isn't damaged, lost or stolen, and you can document any name change. Otherwise you apply in person with Form DS-11.
How much does it cost to renew a US passport?
$130 for an adult passport book and $30 for an adult passport card, under the federal fee schedule. Expedited service is $60 more. Confirm on the State Department's fees page before you pay.
Can I renew my child's passport?
No. Passports issued before age 16 can't be renewed. Children under 16 apply in person with Form DS-11, and their passports are good for five years.
Can I still use my passport if I find it after reporting it lost?
No. Once you report a passport lost or stolen, the State Department invalidates it, and you can't use it even if you find it.
Sources
- USA.gov: Renew an adult passport (who can renew, expired passports, 15 years, mail and online, the 6-month warning, old passport returned in about 4 weeks)
- USA.gov: Get a passport for a minor under 18 (5 years under 16, no renewal, 10 years at 16 to 17)
- USA.gov: Lost or stolen passports (Form DS-64, phone number, invalidation)
- 22 CFR 51.4: Validity of passports (10 and 5 years, book and card, old passport cancelled when a new one is issued)
- 22 CFR 22.1: Schedule of fees (application fees, $80 security surcharge, $35 acceptance fee, $60 expedited, free name change within a year)
- Your Europe: Travel documents for non-EU nationals (3 months after leaving, issued within 10 years)
All checked November 13, 2026. Rules, fees and processing times change, so confirm with the State Department and your destination before you travel. GoodThru is an independent app and isn't affiliated with the US Department of State or any government agency.
