My passport will expire during my trip. Should I renew it before I go?
I am planning to go overseas (Ethiopia) next year and I already have a current passport. I would like to stay longer than what my passport is good for. Would I be able to renew my passport at the American Embassy in Ethiopia and stay in the country, or do I have to come back to the States, renew the passport and return overseas??
Best Answer
Yes, you can get your passport renewed from overseas i.e. from Ethiopian U.S. Embassy. This link will provide you list of documents required for this process.
But if you know it is going to expire sooner, then you should get it renewed before your travel, and same has been advised by US Embassy, and as per US Travel State guidelines.
Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met. Consider the following scenario: A country requires that you have at least six months of validity on your passport. You currently have seven months of validity on your passport. However, your trip is two months from now. At that point, you will only have five months of validity remaining on your passport which is not enough to satisfy that country's entry requirements. In this situation, you would need to renew your passport before you can make your trip.
You can check validations for the country to which you are traveling from this link, which states that for Ethiopia your passport should have a six months validity and some other conditions are mentioned here.
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How soon before the expiration date should you renew your passport?
Tips on When to Renew Your Passport Renew your passport approximately nine months before it expires. Check the expiration date because certain countries require passports to remain valid for up to six months after travel. Also, some airlines do not allow you to board if you do not meet this requirement.Is my passport valid while being renewed?
Once you receive your new passport, your old passport is not valid for international travel. However, if your old passport is linked to a valid visa, you can still use the valid visa. You must travel with both your new and old passport in this case.How close to expiration can I use my passport?
As a general rule, passports must be valid for six months beyond the date the traveler will exit the United States. However, the United States has signed agreements with a number of countries to waive this requirement.6 Month Passport Validity Rule | Can I travel with less than 6 months left on my passport?
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