You just have gotten a good vacation deal but then remembered that your passport is about to expire days before your flight. So how long does it take to renew a passport?
Different countries have different processing times and there are even options to speed up the renewal if you pay more than the normal fee.
You can also have your passport delivered to your doorstep or you can still opt to go to the site to pick it up.
Now before you panic, if your passport renewal processing time will let you fly to your dream beach destination or most-awaited island vacation, let’s go ahead and know more about the passport renewal.
Processing Time to Renew a Passport
As mentioned earlier, processing days can vary depending on the country and your willingness to pay more than the normal fee.
In the US, the normal processing time to renew a passport is between eight to eleven weeks. If you want expedited processing, the time range to renew your passport is from five to seven weeks.
In Europe, the normal processing time to renew a passport in the UK is around three to four weeks, four to six weeks if you’re from Germany, one to six weeks in Italy, and about two weeks to four weeks in France.
You can check with your government’s issuing body website to get more information on passport renewal.
Allowable Passport Expiry Dates for Different Countries
If you’re traveling abroad, it is very important to know how long the expiry date of your passport should be before you are allowed entry.
For instance, when going to Canada, your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the date you expect to leave.
When going to Mexico and some countries in Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the date you expect to leave.
New Zealand requires your passport to be valid three months after your trip. The United States of America on the other hand allows tourists to use their passports until the exact date of expiry.
As a general rule, it is best to have at least six months of validity in your passport when traveling abroad.
This will give you a buffer period in case there are changes in the requirements or unforeseen delays when renewing your passport while you’re away.
Tips on Renewing Your Passport
Here are some helpful tips on renewing your passport:
- Check the expiration date of your passport and start the renewal process ahead of time.
- Make sure that you have all the requirements for passport renewal ready before going to the issuing body.
- Follow the instructions on how to renew your passport to the letter to avoid delays in the processing of your application.
- Pay the required fees to get your passport processed as quickly as possible.
- Be patient when waiting for your new passport as processing times can take weeks or even months.
Renewing a passport is a process that takes time, patience, and money. But if you have all three of those things, you shouldn’t have any problem getting your new passport in no time.
If you don’t want to wait that long or simply don’t want to get a passport, then we have a list just for you on the best places to visit without needing a passport (if you are a US citizen).
