I let mine lapse once, and that was enough to motivate me to set reminders everywhere. I had a trip to Europe scheduled at the time, so consider this as much a cautionary tale as it is sound advice.

Here’s a question for you and it isn’t a trick question. Can you use your passport all the way up to the expiration date? If you answered ‘yes’ then technically you are correct. However, most international destinations require your passport to be valid for a least six months beyond your date of departure. If you show up at the airport with four months left on that key to the world, the airline will deny you boarding. That sounds harsh, especially considering you likely dropped your kids college fund on that ticket.

Fun fact: Airlines are heavily fined for boarding passengers who don’t meet foreign entry rules. As much as they ❤️ you, they don’t want to pay those fines (or the cost of flying you back) if you’re denied entry at the border. Because their bottom line is on the line, they’re going to be pretty ruthless at the gate.

🇺🇸USA Party Peeps🎉

Your mission: Dust off that passport and take a look at the expiration date. Go to your calendar and set a reminder for a minimum of 9 months before the expiration date.

• When the calendar reminder shows up, head over to https://travel.state.gov/ and navigate to “Renew or Replace a Passport.”
• Confirm you meet all requirements before moving to the next step.
• Gather your goodies. You’ll need: the passport you’re renewing, a credit or debit card for passport fees, a digital passport photo, and some personal details (don’t worry, they’re not THAT personal).
• You’re ready to get that bad boy renewed! If you have any technical issues, give Uncle Sam a call at 1-877-487-2778.

10MTN PRO TIP: Don’t Pay for a Middleman You Don’t Need. Avoid those “Unofficial Online Renewal” sites like the plague. They’ll charge you a hefty “service fee” just to do exactly what you can do yourself for free on a .gov site. Worse than the extra $50? Handing your social security number and birth certificate to a random site that’s basically just a middleman with a fancy URL. If it doesn’t end in .gov, it’s a “no” from us.

Stay Calm. Everything Will Be Ok.

Don’t freak out if things don’t go your way. It happens. Renewing a passport seems simple but there may be unforeseen circumstances that are beyond your control.

• Check the application status page. Remember that passport renewals are taking 4 -6 weeks for standard processing. And if you’re following this guideline, you should only need standard processing. I see you last minute person. There’s always one. 🤣
• If you receive a letter from the State Department about your application, don’t panic. They may have some questions. Follow the directions on the letter and respond within 90 days to keep your application alive.

Important Reminders

• The passport you’re renewing will be cancelled, even if there’s still time left on it. Keep it secure until you receive your replacement.
• If you don’t qualify to renew online, you may be able to renew by mail or in person at a passport agency or center. Note: If you end up renewing by mail, you will have to send the old one in (but they’ll send it back!)
• Renewal fees start at $130. Rush processing will cost more.

To my friends who don’t have a US passport yet. No worries. 10MTN has you covered. We’ll publish a guide very soon on how to get your first passport.

Non-US Citizens

For obvious reasons, I can’t list every country’s passport guidelines. Here’s my sage advice: GTS (Google That S**t). We love you though. Thank you for attending today’s class.

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Remember: 10MTN saved you from that embarrassing denial of entry at the Frankfurt airport! Please tell your friends, coworkers, the lady that stares at you at the grocery store, and the ghosts that haunt your house. All of us at 10MTN appreciate you all. 🥰

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Andy Warren is the Editor-in-Chief of 10 Minute Travel News. His passport is valid and will be used and abused quite extensively in 2026. If you’ve enjoyed this article, consider subscribing or supporting us. Safe travels!

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Disclaimer: While we strive to keep our travel tips as fresh as a first-class hot towel, passport regulations and processing times can change quickly. 10MTN is not an official government agency. The information provided here is for educational and entertainment purposes only. While we do our homework, we cannot guarantee that the State Department won’t change their fees, forms, or rules the second you hit “refresh.” Always verify the latest requirements at travel.state.gov before making non-refundable travel plans. 10MTN is not responsible for missed flights, denied entries, or any heartbreak caused by a lapsed document.