How long must my passport be valid when traveling or applying for a visa to the US?
Google "How long must my passport be valid for the U.S.?" and the top hits shout "at least six months beyond the period of their intended stay in the U.S." Ask a friend or a family member—they almost certainly will tell you the same—"at least six months."
This answer is mostly correct, BUT that headline answer skips a big detail—the Six‑Month Club.
If your passport is from Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, India, Japan, the U.K., or more than 100 other countries, it must be valid for the exact length of your stay.
CBP updates the club list every year (most recently April 2025), covering all the heavy hitters—from Argentina to Zimbabwe—so double‑check before you panic‑renew.
Quick refresher - why should I care?
- Who it helps: anyone on a non‑immigrant visa (H‑1B, H‑4, L‑1, F‑1, B‑1/B‑2, etc.).
- What it does: waives the "valid six months beyond departure" rule.
- Why it matters: no last‑minute passport renewal, missed start dates, or airline check‑in drama.
2025 Six‑Month Club—Alphabetical list
A‑C
Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua & Barbuda, Antilles, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bosnia‑Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma (Myanmar), Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic
D‑G
Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana
H‑L
Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg
M‑P
Macau, Madagascar, Maldives, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar
R‑S
Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland
T‑Z
Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican City (Holy See), Venezuela, Zimbabwe
(Source: CBP Carrier Liaison Program bulletin, updated 11 Apr 2025 - this is the latest list as per the date of updating this blog post)
Passport Validity - 2025 FAQ
Pro tips for smooth entry into the U.S.
- Match I‑94 dates with your passport expiry; CBP won't issue status past it.
- Keep a digital copy of bio page + visa in cloud storage.
- Add a reminder 9 months before expiry to start renewal—beats the rush.