Travel Plans With An Expired Passport: What You Need To Know

If you're a US citizen, you may be able to use your expired passport to return to the US from abroad until 31 December 2021 (or 30 June 2022, according to another source). However, you must be flying directly to the US or a US territory, and your passport must meet certain criteria. For example, it must be undamaged and unaltered, and it must have originally been valid for ten years.

Expired passports cannot be used for international travel from the US or for travel to a foreign country for any length of stay longer than a connecting flight.

Within the US, a passport is not necessary to board a domestic flight. However, you must have acceptable identification to pass through TSA checkpoints. An expired passport may be accepted by the TSA if you can persuade them that you are who you say you are.

Domestic air travel

According to the US Department of State, a US passport book or card can be used as an alternative to a state-issued REAL ID and is accepted for domestic air travel. However, it is important to note that this may change in the future, as the Department of Homeland Security has stated that residents of all states will soon need to use a REAL ID-compliant ID for domestic air travel.

While it is not necessary to have a passport to board a domestic flight, you must have acceptable identification to pass through TSA checkpoints. An expired passport is not considered valid identification, but if it is your only form of photo ID, you should bring it with you and use it to persuade the TSA of your identity.

If you are a dual national, you must travel on your US passport and cannot use the passport of your other nationality, even if it would normally allow for visa-free travel.

International air travel

If you are a US citizen, there are some exceptions to this rule. If your passport expired on or after 1 January 2020, you may be able to use it for direct return travel to the US until 31 December 2021. This was extended to 30 June 2022 to alleviate travel difficulties and appointment backlogs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this is only applicable if you are a US citizen currently abroad seeking direct return to the US. You must be flying directly to the US or a US territory, and your expired passport must be undamaged, unaltered, and valid for 10 years (or five years if you were 15 or younger when it was issued).

Even if you meet these criteria, you should check your eligibility for travelling on an expired passport before finalising travel arrangements. It is recommended that you renew your passport as soon as possible, as you will not be able to depart from the US with an expired passport.

If you are not a US citizen, you should contact your country's nearest embassy or consulate to find out what your options are.

Land travel

If you are a US citizen and are currently abroad, you may be able to use your expired US passport to return directly to the United States. This temporary measure was implemented to alleviate travel difficulties created by the global COVID-19 pandemic. To be eligible, your passport must have expired on or after 1 January 2020, been undamaged, unaltered, and valid for 10 years (or 5 years if you were 15 or younger when it was issued). This measure was valid until 31 December 2021, and then extended until 30 June 2022.

If you are travelling to Canada or Mexico by car, you may be allowed to cross the border, but there is a risk of being turned away due to a lack of necessary documents. When returning to the US, you may be detained temporarily while your identification and citizenship are verified. Even with an expired passport, there is no guarantee you will be allowed through without incident.

It is always best to ensure you have a valid passport before planning a trip.

Sea travel

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a temporary exception to this rule. U.S. citizens were allowed to return from abroad using an expired passport, as long as it expired on or after January 1, 2020. However, this policy was discontinued as of July 1, 2022.

If you are planning to travel by sea, it is important to ensure that your passport is valid. Check the expiration date of your passport and renew it if necessary before finalizing your travel plans.

Travel to US territories

If you are a US citizen, you do not need a passport to travel to US territories, including:

• Puerto Rico
• Guam
• US Virgin Islands
• American Samoa
• Swains Island
• Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

However, you will need some form of official identification, such as a current driver's license or a photo ID card issued by a state's motor vehicles department. A certified US birth certificate may also be accepted.

Please note that you will need a passport to travel to the Freely Associated States, which include:

• The Federated States of Micronesia
• The Republic of the Marshall Islands
• The Republic of Palau

Also, be aware that if you are travelling by air within the US, you will need acceptable identification, such as a valid passport or another government-issued photo ID. An expired passport may be accepted, but this is at the discretion of the TSA.

Frequently asked questions