Is now the time to renew your passport? The US Passport Agency is expecting record number renewals in the next 2 years.
You’re flying back from Mexico the day after your passport expires. You’re good to go, right?
Wrong. Unless you have 6 months remaining on your passport after the day you depart Mexico and many other countries, you could be denied boarding your flight TO your destination.
The rules vary by country. US passport holders can search the rules for the country/ies you’re visiting here.
Citizens of other countries should check with the similar agency for your nation.
If you do need to renew your passport, do it early! The 10 year passport was introduced in 2006 meaning all those passports are due for renewal in 2016. In 2007, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative mandated passport usage for Americans traveling to the Caribbean and other countries where they never needed them before. As a result, millions of passports will be up for renewal in the next couple of years, creating long waits.
Be mindful of when you send in your passport for renewal. If you have an upcoming trip AND more than 6 months remaining until your passport expires, wait until your return to send the passport for renewal.
Expediting your passport insures faster return. The $60 fee for expediting is well worth your peace of mind if you have a trip scheduled. Overnight mail for the renewed passport to be returned is $20.66 extra.
If you don’t have time to wait, I can connect you with a passport expediting service that guarantees a 2 week turnaround for $89 instead of $60. Click here for more info. They also offer faster service for additional fees. You will need documentation of your trip departure and all the components for a regular passport renewal – 2 passport sized photos, signed application by a legitimate Passport Acceptance Agent (usually available at Post Offices), and proof of identification for new passports.
Even if you previously had a passport that expired, if you have not had a new passport issued in the past 15 years, you have to apply for a new passport.
I’ve seen a lot of articles warning of record wait times this year, but my experience was just the opposite. I’m travelling to Italy in September with my wife, and our passports expire in November. I mailed both of our passports in for renewal on July 5th, as a “regular” process (not expedited) with no special request for faster mail service as well. We just received the new ones back in the mail on July 15th – 10 days turnaround! I honestly think if I requested the “expedited” service it would have taken longer. I don’t want to lull anyone into procrastination, but I was very surprised at the turnaround considering the dozens of articles warning of epic processing volume and times this year.
Wow Ken – you were lucky! It took me over a month to get my expedited passport back.