Passport Expiration Question

[sharmorr]

US passport expires 5-1/2 months upon return from Iceland.  Is the 6 month provision strictly enforced when re-entering US?   Or will I be safe with 5-1/2 months before expiration date?    I believe Iceland requires validity 3 months to expiration date,so I should be safe getting into Iceland, but worried about return to US.  Thanks for replying.

[njhorseman]

10 minutes ago, sharmorr said:

US passport expires 5-1/2 months upon return from Iceland.  Is the 6 month provision strictly enforced when re-entering US?   Or will I be safe with 5-1/2 months before expiration date?    I believe Iceland requires validity 3 months to expiration date,so I should be safe getting into Iceland, but worried about return to US.  Thanks for replying.

For purposes of entering the US , a US passport is good right up to its expiration date, so that's not an issue. 

 

For Iceland per the US Department of State at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Iceland.html three months remaining validity is required:

"PASSPORT VALIDITY:

Three months required, six months recommended beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area."

 

Also some cruise lines...particularly upper premium and luxury lines, require all passports to have six months remaining validity even if the ports being visited do not, so it's necessary for you to check your cruise line's requirements.

 

Edited August 15 by njhorseman

[zqvol]

22 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

 

 

Also some cruise lines...particularly upper premium and luxury lines, require all passports to have six months remaining validity even if the ports being visited do not, so it's necessary for you to check your cruise line's requirements.

 

No trouble at all getting home, BUT you may not get on your cruise without 6 months validity after the end of the cruise.  Check your cruise line. 

[sharmorr]

Thanks for replies.   Will check with Viking.

[njhorseman]

19 minutes ago, sharmorr said:

Thanks for replies.   Will check with Viking.

Viking is in the upper premium or luxury categories of cruise lines, which typically require six months remaining validity for all itineraries, and per their Passenger Ticket Contract that indeed is the case:

https://docs.vikingcruises.com/pdf/3-220317_PassengerTicketContract-US.pdf

 

From paragraph 8 on page 5 of the contract:

 

"8. PRE-BOARDING AND EMBARKATION REQUIREMENTS. Upon initiation of pre-boarding procedures, you shall have in your possession the Passenger Ticket Contract, a passport valid until six (6) months following disembarkation (if leaving the United States at any time) or a valid government-issued identification (if not leaving the United States at any time), any necessary affidavits, visas, inoculation or vaccination cards compliant with the requirements of the destinations visited, proof of travel insurance where required by the itinerary and allowed by law, and all other documents necessary for the scheduled ports of call and final destination."

 

So...even though your passport meets all validity requirements for entry to Iceland and return to the USA, it does not meet Viking's requirements. You'll need to renew your passport before your cruise.

Edited August 15 by njhorseman

[sharmorr]

Looks like the problem is Viking, not governments.   Oh well....    Guess I better renew early.   Thank you for your replies.

[zqvol]

14 minutes ago, sharmorr said:

Looks like the problem is Viking, not governments.   Oh well....    Guess I better renew early.   Thank you for your replies.

At least you seem to have caught it early enough to have time. 

[capriccio]

Assuming you are flying to your cruise, check to see what the rule is for your destination country.  We have been warned by airlines when making reservations that we would be denied boarding if our passports did not have at least 6 months validity.

[CDNPolar]

On 8/15/2024 at 11:03 PM, capriccio said:

Assuming you are flying to your cruise, check to see what the rule is for your destination country.  We have been warned by airlines when making reservations that we would be denied boarding if our passports did not have at least 6 months validity.

 

Airlines generally do not have their own policies regarding passport validity.  Airlines generally follow the validity requirement of the destination you are flying to - both the transit country and final destination.

 

It is not uncommon for an airline to warn you that you may need 6 months of passport validity but they are responsible to enforce the country rule, and 6 months is generally the max required.

 

Also, often it would be 6 months from the return date, not the departure date.

 

Don't try to slide a few days in, because even if the airline missed it you could and would be stopped by immigration at your destination and you could be denied entry.  That would be your cost to get home.

[sharmorr]

I appreciate all replies.  Will definitely renew in time for the cruise .. and return.   Happy travels to all!