Can You Travel With an Expired Passport?
Short answer
No — you cannot travel internationally on an expired U.S. passport; airlines will deny boarding. For domestic flights, an expired passport is not REAL ID-compliant identification either, so you need another accepted ID. Many countries also require your passport to be valid for 3–6 months beyond your travel dates, so 'not yet expired' can still be too late.
International travel: a hard no
U.S. citizens must present a valid passport book to fly internationally. Airlines check at check-in and are fined for carrying passengers with invalid documents, so an expired passport won't get you past the counter — even to countries that don't technically require one for entry.
The temporary COVID-era policy that allowed some returns to the U.S. on expired passports ended years ago. Today there is no general exception.
The six-month validity rule
Even a passport that hasn't expired can fail you. Most of Europe's Schengen area requires validity for at least 3 months beyond your departure date, and many countries in Asia, South America, and elsewhere require 6 months.
Check your destination's exact requirement on the State Department's country information pages before booking. If you're inside the validity window, renew before you travel.
Domestic flights and REAL ID
For flights within the U.S., TSA accepts several forms of ID — but since REAL ID enforcement began in May 2025, a standard expired document won't clear the checkpoint. TSA accepts an unexpired passport book or card, a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, and other listed documents.
An expired passport used to buy you a secondary screening; travelers should not count on that today. See our REAL ID guide for the full accepted-document list.
The fastest ways to replace an expired passport
If your trip is weeks away, renew by mail or online with expedited service. If you travel within 14 days, make an appointment at a regional passport agency with proof of travel. If you're already abroad, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate — they can issue an emergency, limited-validity passport, often within days.
Registered passport couriers can also hand-carry applications to agencies for expedited processing; see our courier directory for how that works.
PassportOffices is an independent resource, not a government website. Rules, fees, and processing times change — always confirm details at travel.state.gov before you travel.