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Six-Month Club: US passport requirements
If you are traveling to the United States, you must meet the current passport requirements. This includes not only the type of passport you have but also its validity. Learn about the passport requirements for US travelers.
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US passport validity
In general, foreign travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the planned date of departure. Failure to comply with this passport requirement by US authorities may result in problems when applying for entry into the United States or applying for visas and ESTA permits.
However, there is an exception to this 6-month passport rule for citizens of more than 100 countries: the so-called Six-Month Club.
Six-Month Club: members and benefits
Countries that are members of the US government's "Six-Month Club" are exempt from the six-month passport requirement for travel to the United States.
What does Six-Month Club membership mean?
Membership in the Six-Month Club is equivalent to a 6-month extension of the passport validity of all nationals of a country when dealing with the US authorities. For example, if your passport is still valid until December 31st, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will add six months to that date. You can then stay in the USA until December 31st, provided you have a valid ESTA or visa.
The Six-Month Club country list is continually updated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Check the validity of the passport
Before submitting your ESTA application or traveling to the US with an existing ESTA authorization, you should double-check the validity of your passport.
The reason: When your passport expires, so does your ESTA authorization. Applying for a new passport means that you will also need to apply for a new ESTA.
However, if you have a US visa, you must carry both your old and new passports when you enter the US after your passport expires.
