It is easy to forget when your passport expires. People often notice it at the check-in desk, or when they apply for a visa or a residence permit. By then the passport may have only 6 months left, which is often not enough.
This guide explains what to check in your passport, which rules apply when you enter other countries, and when to start renewing it if you live abroad.
You can find the dates on the photo page: the date of issue and the date of expiry. A Russian international passport of the old type is valid for 5 years, and a biometric one for 10 years. Other countries have their own rules, usually from 5 to 10 years. Children’s passports are often valid for a shorter time.
As a rule, you cannot extend a passport. You get a new one, and it is better to do this before the old one expires.
Many countries ask that your passport is still valid for some time after your trip. These two rules are the most common:
Some countries are less strict, but do not count on it. An airline can refuse to let you board if your passport does not meet the rules of the country you are flying to. Before you travel, check the rules on the website of that country’s embassy or consulate.
Also check the free pages. You need blank pages for visas and stamps, and a passport without them is hard to travel with, even if it is still valid.
If you live outside your home country, you usually renew your passport at its consulate. Time is what matters here. You may have to wait weeks for an appointment, and making the passport can take from a few weeks to a few months. You may still need your old passport during that time, for travel and for other documents.
So start about 9 to 12 months before your passport expires. This leaves time for the queue, for the 6 months rule and for any delays.
Other deadlines depend on your passport. A residence permit or a visa is often issued for no longer than your passport is valid. After you get a new passport, you may need to give its details to the immigration office. If your residence permit or visa is due for renewal soon, think about renewing your passport first.
The timer’s bar shows how much time is left. You will see at once when it turns yellow, and then red.
Create a timer with the end date and turn on an email reminder.