Passport expiring soon? Visit these countries within your 3-month renewal deadline
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Have you looked at your passport’s expiration date recently? If you think you’re in the clear for summer travel because you have six months or less remaining until your renewal date, think again.
Even those with less than eight months of validity remaining on their passports may already find it's too late for summer travel to many countries. This is because of the six-month validity rule that you’ll find applies to most European countries in the Schengen Area — including France, Italy and Spain — which all require your passport to be valid for a minimum of six months after entry.
Europe isn't the only place you need to be careful: This six-month validity rule also applies to large portions of Africa, Asia and South America. Additionally, many other countries are even stricter and enforce three-month validity requirements for passports. This can further limit your travel options if your passport expiration date is looming.
Couple that with wait times for passport renewals — which range from two to three weeks for expedited service to six to eight weeks for regular processing — in the U.S. In the United Kingdom, wait times can last at least three weeks for regular processing, one week for expedited service or one day if you can travel to a passport office for the fast-track service. With wait times in mind, if you're not diligent, you can quickly find yourself traveling nowhere soon.
Don’t despair, though. You can still travel internationally with just a month or two left on your passport before expiration. I learned this firsthand when researching vacation alternatives for my family. I had to cancel our spring break trip to Kenya (with a six-month passport validity requirement, plus a visa) after I discovered my son’s five-year passport would expire a month after our planned trip.
Wondering where you should head instead? Here are all the options where passports need to only be valid at the time of entry or for the duration of your stay. Note, though, that you will still need a blank passport page for an entry stamp unless otherwise noted below.
The Bahamas and Bermuda
If you’re looking for Caribbean surf and sun, these two countries will welcome you as long as your passport is valid at the time of entry. Extra bonus: Both Bermuda and the Bahamas are included in U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s 15 international preclearance locations. The Bahamas also offers TSA PreCheck in Nassau, making your return to the U.S. almost as easy as a domestic trip.
Canada
Oh, Canada. Thank you for being a friend. The entire country — including summer favorites such as Victoria and Vancouver in the west and Francophile destinations like Montreal and Quebec, plus Toronto, in the east — only requires a passport to be valid at your entry date. Like Bermuda and the Bahamas, Canada also offers CBP’s preclearance program at locations in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta; Toronto; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Montreal; Ottawa, Ontario; Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.
United Kingdom
England turned out to be my family’s spring break savior. London provided an easy getaway from the East Coast, and there was nonstop airfare available to book within a short time frame. If you choose this option, you can visit Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with the same passport as long as it’s valid for the duration of your stay. (Note, though, that you can’t combine a trip to the U.K. with European countries that have three- or six-month passport validity requirements.)
Ireland
The Emerald Isle is another easy-to-reach country from the U.S. (and another spot my family has visited for a surprisingly sunny spring break in the past). Ireland only requires your passport to be valid for the duration of your stay. Extra bonus: Customs preclearance is available at airports in Dublin and Shannon before you return home.
Mexico
Another easy destination to reach from much of the U.S. is Mexico, and it doesn’t require passports to be valid past the duration of your stay.
Seychelles
Long-haul travel is an option with a passport that has a short validity. Head directly to the Seychelles, a country comprising 115 sun-kissed islands off the eastern coast of southern Africa. You’ll need a passport valid for the duration of your stay (and plenty of sunscreen).
US options
It’s worth noting that there are several U.S. territories and commonwealth islands where you won’t need a passport at all to visit, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Related reading:
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- Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
- 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without
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Annual Fee
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.