Few feelings compare to the excitement of embarking on a big international trip. After months of researching and booking an itinerary, the time for the adventure finally arrives.
But that joy quickly disappears if you can’t actually get to your destination. We’ve all heard passport horror stories ― surprise requirements, forgotten name changes, denied boarding, issues at the border, etc.
To help you avoid this fate, we asked experts to break down the most common passport mistakes and how to keep these issues from ruining your vacation.
Assuming you’re good to go as long as your passport hasn’t expired.
“One of the biggest mistakes we hear about time and again is not understanding when someone should actually be renewing their passport,” Katy Nastro, a travel expert and spokesperson for the Going travel app, told HuffPost. “Many people assume that if they have a month or so left before the expiration date, they can still travel the world, but in most cases, they cannot.”
Most countries require that your passport be valid for a certain duration beyond the dates of your trip. The length is usually three or six months, though there are outliers, but either way, you’ll want to make sure yours is good to go.
“The best advice is to check well in advance of your trip to ensure you can enter the country you intend to fly to so you don’t get turned away upon arrival or worse, denied boarding the flight over altogether,” Nastro added.
Trying to travel with insufficient blank passport pages.
“A rule that many travelers miss is needing an adequate number of blank pages in their passport,” said David Alwadish, the founder and CEO of the passport and visa concierge service ItsEasy.com. “Some countries require these for stamps or visas. Travelers should check their destination’s rules and ensure they have enough blank pages before traveling.”
The requirements vary, but lots of popular destinations call for one or two empty pages. Some even require three, so experts advise making sure you have at least four blank pages, especially if you’re an avid traveler with a passport that’s close to expiring. Remember that even just one stamp means a page is not blank.
“If you’re looking to travel internationally in 2025 or are toying with the idea of international travel in the next few years, send your passport in now,” Nastro advised. “Just as driving a car requires a license, a passport is a non-negotiable for international travel. Do…
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