6 very important things to know about your passport
Knowing a thing or two about passport and visa requirements should be at the top of your checklist before heading to your next international destination. Some countries require no visa at all, some do if your stay exceeds 90 days, while others have certain restrictions that could prevent you from entering if your passport doesn't follow some rules.
Passports expire, too. The Points Guy recently had to renew his passport, filled with stamps and visas, and shared some of his favorite memories tied to it.
Here are six things you should know about your passport, and what you should do if your travel buddy is expiring soon.
Six-month validity requirement
Most countries require your passport to have six months of remaining validity. As a general rule, you should always make sure your passport will remain valid for six months beyond your planned trip. You never know if your travel plans are going to change, and the last thing you want is to be stuck. Some of these countries include Turkey, Thailand and Vietnam. You can always check your destination's entry and exit information through the US Department of State's website, and you should never assume countries within the same region have the same rules. Italy, France and Switzerland, for example, are part of Europe's Schengen Area, which grants free circulation without passport within it, but Italy requires six months of validity on your passport to enter the country from outside Schengen, while France requires three months and Switzerland only 90 days.
Blank pages
Similarly, a handful of countries require at least one or two fully blank visa pages for valid entry. This requirement could be for either an entry stamp or a visa. Countries that require a passport to have a blank page in order to be stamped include Mexico, Canada, the UK and Germany. Italy, Sweden, Singapore and Iceland along with several others require at least two blank pages for an entry stamp.
Additionally, several countries require at least two blank pages in order to get a visa. For example, South Africa requires Americans who are staying beyond 90 days to obtain a visa, and the passport's two blank pages must be adjacent. China will issue a six-month visa to a passport with any two blank pages, but in order to receive a 10-year visa, the pages need to be consecutive.
Finally, keep in mind that the last two pages of the US passport are not qualifying visa pages. Make sure that you have an empty page with "visa" at the top. You'll want to renew your passport before these visa pages are gone.
Multiple entry
China is among the few countries that offer a 10-year visa. If you think you'll be traveling to and from certain countries over the next several years, you should look into whether your destination offers multiple entry visas. Along with China, Brazil and India also offer 10-year visas. The length of your visa can also depend on whether you are traveling for business or leisure. India does not automatically grant business travelers a long-term visa. Therefore, business travelers could be issued a multiple entry visa that's valid for one, five, or ten years. Additionally, be wary of costs for multiple entry visas; Russia, for instance, offers a multiple-entry visa that can cost over $500.
New passport, new visas
It is safe to assume your visas expire with your passport — even if your visas are still valid. The only countries that allow you to travel with both your new passport and old passport containing your valid visa, as long as your identifying information hasn't changed, are China, India, Saudia Arabia, and Brazil. There is absolutely no way to transfer a valid visa from your old passport to your new passport.
Update your Global Entry
Global Entry is extremely valuable and useful, especially when you're constantly traveling in and out of the US. Because Global Entry lasts five years, there's a chance your passport expires before your membership does. Good news for you: US Customs and Border Protection makes it very easy to update your new passport without having to reapply.
Apply for a visa through a third-party service
We recommend using Allied Passport to apply for your next visa. TPG readers can receive a $5 discount on their application by clicking the link provided. Allied Passport is trusted third-party visa service that hand delivers applications to embassies. Steve Gempeler, the co-owner of Allied Passport, said using a third-party service that hand delivers a visa application is especially beneficial when applying for a visa to a country with a high security alert. Gempeler recommends applying for a visa through Allied Passport no earlier than two months before your departure: "If you get a visa five months out there are so many different circumstances in those five months compared to one month out," he said. For example, you might get sick and have to cancel your trip.
The most common mistake Allied Passport sees with applications is passports with insufficient pages. "[People] think that the last couple of pages in their passport are visa pages," Gempeler said, "but they really are State Department amendment pages."
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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.Pros
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- 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.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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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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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.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.