If you’re planning on traveling outside the US with an expired passport, you’re out of luck. A valid US passport is required for international travel. The only exception to this rule is if you’re traveling by land or sea to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. In that case, you’ll be able to get by with your photo ID and a birth certificate until June 1st. After that, the rules change, and you’ll need a valid passport. For more information, see “Do I Need a Passport to Go to Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean?”
If you’re traveling outside the country and you are going anywhere other than Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean, you need to have a passport and it needs to be valid. In fact, many countries require you to have at least 6 months left before the expiration date on your passport.
If you try to travel with an expired passport, you probably won’t be allowed on the plane. Even if the airline doesn’t catch that your passport is expired, you’ll certainly run into problems when you try to get your passport stamped after you land.
So, don’t risk turning your vacation into a bureaucratic nightmare. Check the expiration date on your passport before you book your trip! Ordinarily, it takes at least a couple of months to get your passport renewed in the mail. However, if you have a trip coming up in the near future and you notice that your passport is expired, don’t panic. You can get an emergency passport!
The easiest way to get an emergency passport is to use a private passport expediting company. You don’t have to make an appointment or wait in line. All you have to do is fill out the paperwork for your passport renewal, send it to the expediting company along with all the necessary supporting documents, and the expediting company will hand-deliver it to the US Department of State for faster processing. Your new passport can be on its way back to you in as little as 24 hours!
Don’t risk trying to travel on an expired passport. Renew your passport with us today!
Tags: international travel, Passport Processing, passport renewal
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Can i travel to Florida with an expired passport?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:47 pmCan i travel from Florida to New York with an expired passport?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:48 pmHi Nancy,
If you’re traveling in the United States, your driver’s license or other state-issued ID will be fine, and you don’t need a valid passport.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:38 amCan i travel to Hawaii from LAX with a expired passport and
July 1st, 2009 at 6:31 ambirth certificate i dont have any form of id i called the airline
they said its fine but but just double checking
Hi Chris,
Hawaii is part of the US-since you’re not traveling internationally, you don’t need a passport. However, you still need to show the airline some form of ID to claim your ticket. It doesn’t have to be a passport-it can be your driver’s license or a state ID card. If your airline has verified that they will accept what you have, you should be fine.
July 7th, 2009 at 12:47 pmMy husband lost his drivers license and is flying tomorrow morning to another state. Could he use jis expired passport to fly?
July 13th, 2009 at 1:08 pmYes
August 19th, 2009 at 1:22 pmYour blog is so informative ?keep up the good work!!!!
October 10th, 2009 at 7:14 amWhat is going to happen at LAX when my mother arrives from Mexico City with a passport that has been expired since June 09? This was an oversight – no legal issues, just a mistake. She has been in Mexico for 6 days only. She is a naturalized citizen. California resident for 55 years.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:52 amPlease advise.
So… What is the answer Pete? What happened? Does anyone know? If my wife crosses over by auto into Mexico for a medical proceedure and she has an expired passport, what will be her issues, if any, coming back? Anyone know? It’s a little vague. No flight involved. drives across from California. She has Arizona drivers license.
December 29th, 2009 at 1:57 amcan you still travel within the US with only an expired passport and no driver’s license or things have changed due to the current situation
January 5th, 2010 at 3:22 pmCan you get back into the US, land travel, from Canada on a expired US passport, birth certificate, and Driver’s License?
March 12th, 2010 at 6:56 pmWell, they can’t really keep you out of the country if you are a US citizen. However, if you don’t renew your passport you should expect delays trying to cross back in to the US because what you are describing does not meet the legal requirements to re-enter the US from Canada. So, you may be detained for a period of time while they verify that your documents are authentic and you are really a US citizen. I would recommend renewing your passport or at least getting a passport card.
March 21st, 2010 at 2:52 pmHi, my wife is a registered alien with an expired passport. Just received notice that her Mom died back home in Philippines. What’s the quickest possible way to get her on a flight there?
March 30th, 2010 at 10:46 pmHi Shame,
I’m sorry to hear about your loss! We only expedite US passports, so I would recommend contacting the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate. There’s a list here:
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:06 pmhttp://www.philippineembassy-usa.org/Consulates.htm
Good luck!
Both of my children were born in Rota, Spain while I was in the military. I did not renew their passports which expired over five years ago. I do not have their original birth certificates because they were lost during our move. I was not married so neither of their fathers names appears on the original birth of certificate abroad. Can I get an expedited passport using their old passports?
April 3rd, 2010 at 8:13 pmHi Gail,
According to the US Department of State, you should be able to use your children’s old passports as proof of citizenship as long as they are undamaged and in good condition. However, if your kids are still under 16, you will need either permission from their fathers OR proof that you have sole custody. See this page for acceptable documents:
April 7th, 2010 at 1:31 pmhttp://travel.state.gov/passport/get/minors/minors_834.html
I am a Spanish Citizen, and am currently living in the US. I want to travel back to Spain. can I visit Spain with an expired passport if I get it renewed while I am in Spain?
May 16th, 2010 at 4:12 pmYou should probably get your passport renewed at a Spanish embassy here before you leave, Krystal. There’s a good chance your airline won’t let you board the flight to Spain without one.
May 20th, 2010 at 2:49 pmHi,
I lost my passport and found it again. i am flying tomorrow. can i take the paspport I found to the airport? i cant rebook my flight.
June 1st, 2010 at 6:47 pmHi Rashy,
It depends. If you’ve reported it lost to the Department of State already, then no, you can’t use it. Once you report it to the Department of State, they cancel it and won’t let you travel on it.
June 4th, 2010 at 11:06 pmJune 23, 2010.
My son who is 13. his passport just expired June 19th 2010. I am from Florida and we are planning to go to canada. I have his birth certificate. Will they give my problem to travel
June 22nd, 2010 at 8:33 pmHi Linh,
It depends on how you’re traveling. If you’re driving across the border, you should be fine with his birth certificate. If you are flying to Canada, you’ve got to get a passport ASAP or they won’t let him on the plane.
June 25th, 2010 at 8:47 pmI would call the US Embassy-They should be able to advise you and help you renew your passport.
June 25th, 2010 at 9:40 pmMy son who is 10. His passport expired last year. I am in Michigan and we are travraveling by car to Falls, Canada… and i cant find his birth certificate either. Will it cause any problem at the border???
July 21st, 2010 at 2:12 pmHi Ash,
Yes, possibly. He needs either a valid passport or a copy of his birth certificate. If you still live close to where he was born, contact your local Department of Vital Records (Contact information here: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm ), otherwise you can order a copy from Vitalcheck: http://www.vitalchek.com/
July 24th, 2010 at 9:01 pmHi, I’m going to get a driver’s license tomorrow in TX, but my passport expired just yesterday, do you think they will accept it?
August 25th, 2010 at 1:08 amHi Ashlyn,
Good question…the best thing to do would be to call the local DMV and ask.
Good luck!
August 25th, 2010 at 5:05 pm