What is the minimum passport validity to travel to the United States in 2026?

If you are planning a trip to the United States, one of the most critical details you must check is your passport's expiration date. It is not enough for the document to be valid on the day of your flight; immigration authorities require specific validity standards to allow entry into the country.

Before confirming your reservations, it is essential to understand the "six-month rule" and how the 2026 updates have simplified the process for many international travelers.

The General Rule: Why do they require 6 months of validity?

As a general rule, the United States requires foreign visitors to have a passport valid for at least six months beyond their intended period of stay. The purpose of this rule is to ensure that the traveler holds a legal and valid identity document in case their stay is extended due to emergencies or unexpected delays.

However, in 2026, a large number of countries benefit from a key exception that makes traveling much simpler for millions of people.

The "Six-Month Club": The well-known exception

The United States maintains agreements with a select group of nations known as the "Six-Month Club". If your passport was issued by one of these countries, the six-month rule does not apply. In these cases, your passport only needs to be valid for the exact duration of your stay in the country.

Spain, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, and most European Union countries are part of this group. This means that if you plan a 10-day visit and your passport expires in one month, you could technically enter, although a safety margin is always recommended.

What happens if I travel with an ESTA or a B1/B2 Visa?

It is a common misconception that the ESTA or Visa replaces passport requirements. The ESTA is electronically linked to a specific passport; if the passport expires, the ESTA authorization is automatically invalidated, and a new one must be processed with the new document.

If you have a valid physical visa in an expired passport, you can travel by presenting both documents: the old passport (containing the visa) and the new passport (used for identification), provided both are from the same country and of the same type.

New digital control regulations in 2026

Starting this year, the CBP (Customs and Border Protection) has reinforced the use of the CBP One app and biometric control kiosks. Now, upon scanning the passport, the system automatically verifies if the required validity is met based on nationality.

If the passport does not meet the validity criteria at the time of scanning at the departure airport, the TSA ConfirmID system will likely block the issuance of the digital boarding pass, forcing a manual review at the airline counter.

1. Emergency or Provisional Passports

Many people renew at the last minute and travel with an emergency passport (usually a different color or with fewer pages).

• The key fact: To travel with an ESTA, the passport MUST be electronic (with a chip). Many emergency passports do not have a chip and, therefore, are not valid for the ESTA, even if the country is in the "Six-Month Club." In that case, the traveler would need a physical B1/B2 visa.
  
  

2. The "Blank Pages" requirement

You may have 2 years of validity, but if you have no space for stamps, you won't get in.

• Missing mention: It is recommended to have at least two blank pages for entry and exit stamps. Although stamping is increasingly digital in 2026, many airlines still require seeing physical space in the document before allowing check-in.
  
  

3. Passport validity for "Departure" (Accidental Overstay)

• The nuance: If you enter with a passport that expires in 15 days because your trip lasts 10, you are compliant. However, if your flight is canceled due to a hurricane or strike and your passport expires while waiting for the new flight, you enter a very complex legal situation. The safety recommendation should always be to have at least 3 months of validity, regardless of exceptions.
  
  

4. Minors and Consent (Form DS-3053)

For minors, a passport is sometimes not enough.

• Extra information: If a minor travels with only one parent (or with third parties), in 2026 authorities are being very strict regarding notarized and translated travel authorization, in addition to a valid passport.
  
  

Final recommendations to avoid immigration issues

Regardless of the rules, we advise following these guidelines for a smooth trip:

• Renew in advance: If your passport expires in less than 9 months, consider renewing it before starting visa or ESTA procedures.
• Travel insurance validity: Ensure your health insurance covers the same period as your passport, as many 2026 policies require valid documentation to be effective in the U.S.
• Digital copy: Keep a digital copy of your passport's data page in the cloud in case you need to manage an emergency travel document due to loss or theft during your stay.