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http://www.tripso.com/archives/2006/06/passpts.html

Is your passport really in order?

I was recently in the Atlanta airport, headed for a flight to Tel Aviv, when I noticed something odd: a young man and his 3- or 4-year-old daughter were taken aside and asked to stand behind the security perimeter.

Were they carrying too many toys? Was there something wrong with their tickets? Did they fail the security screening? Could they possibly be terrorists?

None of the above. This gentleman, who was traveling from California to Israel for an important family gathering, had failed to check his passport. The passport hadn’t expired. In fact, it wouldn’t expire for five months and 22 days. But that wasn’t good enough. Like several other countries, Israel will not permit travelers to enter the country unless their passports will remain valid for at least six months after their scheduled departure.

This young father didn’t know the rules. Both he and his daughter were denied boarding, and they had to spend three days in Atlanta getting new documents. The airline kindly waived the customary change fee for rebooking their flights and upgraded them to business class. But, sadly, they missed their family gathering.

What to know about special expiration rules

It’s true: Some countries require that your U.S. passport be valid not only for the duration of your visit, but also for three to six months after your entry or return from their country. This means you have to check your passport expiration date carefully. For example, if your passport expires on March 1, 2007, and you want to travel this coming November, you may need to renew your passport before you go.

Here is a list of some countries that have special passport expiration rules.

* Brazil, Ecuador (including the Galápagos Islands), Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Paraguay, Romania, Singapore: six months

* Cambodia, Denmark (including Greenland), Fiji, Switzerland: three months (Denmark applies its three-month rule to your stay in any of 15 European countries)

There are many others. Some countries count their expiration windows from date of entry into their country, others from scheduled departure, so be sure to ask. For further information about special passport expiration rules, check the U. S. Department of State’s listing of foreign entry requirements. Other good sources of information are your airline, your travel agent, and the host country’s embassy or consulate.

What to do if your passport will expire in less than six months

* Contact the host country’s embassy or consulate to see if you can get a special visa for travel within the expiration period.
* Renew your passport. The State Department says to allow six weeks for renewal, but you can sometimes get it sooner. For example, if you apply during September or December, when relatively few travelers apply for passports, the turnaround time is faster.
* Apply for an expedited renewal. For an additional fee of $60, you can get your passport renewed in about two weeks.

Only the U.S. State Department can issue you a U.S. passport. For information on all passport matters, consult the State Department’s Web site.

A few more things you should know about passports

* Many Middle Eastern and African countries will deny entry and refuse to issue a visa if your current passport contains an entry or exit stamp from Israel. If you are in this situation, you should apply for a new passport.
* New passport rules are scheduled to take effect for travel to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada. As of December 31, 2006, a passport or other secure documentation will be required for all travel by air or by sea to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2007, a passport or other secure documentation will also be required for all land border crossings to or from these countries.
* If you have been traveling a lot and have run out of passport pages, as I recently did, you can add new passport pages. Be aware that South Africa requires that all travelers have at least two blank pages for visas in their passports.
* In most cases, U.S. citizens planning to stay in one country for more than 90 days will be required to provide additional paperwork, such as visas, proof of financial resources, and an outgoing ticket.
* Finally, be aware that all U.S. citizens must have their own passport. Ch*ldren cannot be included on a parent’s passport — even newborn Babi*s must have a passport to travel.

Don’t let your next overseas trip get tripped up by a passport fiasco. Check your passport well in advance, and make sure your paperwork is in order.

I had mine renewed a month or more ago as it expires in April 2007 and I didn't want to cut it too close. I have read numerous reports about people having problems if passport is getting anyhwere near expireation date. rbc100

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In Search of Fine Kittens,
Please... Bring back the Muff

good post Wit one time i went to CR with less than 60 days on my passport. when i got back i sent off for a new one with extra pages. passports should be checked and should be properly handled and stored. pura vida

Here's what the US State Department says for Costa Rica:

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: For entry into Costa Rica, U.S. citizens must present valid passports that will not expire for at least thirty days after arrival.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_t ... _1093.html

Another item to note is that CR migracion has refused entry or indicated they would on the next trip to some whose passport was in poor condition.

A passport wallet to keep your passport in is worth the few bucks it costs.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Per the US embassy you only need thirty days on your passport to enter
CR, however I was recently the recipiant of minor hassle from an immgration lady in SJO airport. She claimed that you needed 6 months remaining on your passport. I ended up getting in OK although mine had only about 3 mos left. FWIW

More tolerance from the lands of the religion of peace. What a bunch of crap. They refuse entry if you have an exit stamp from Isreal. F- all those dung heap smelly countries. Oh well, the burka look just isn't my thing anyways. Guess I'll miss that party

good point ID a passport wallet indeed , there is no excuse for not having one pura vida

Wit et al,

My passport will expire on February 6, 2007.

Should I renew it right now, or will it be okay for my coming trip in late August? Opinions, please.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

EC,
That's a tough call. I've heard that you must have at least 3 months left on your passport to get into CR, and I've also heard that you must have at least 6 months left on your passport to get into CR. It seems hard to get a definitive answer. But if it is, in fact, 6 months, then you're cutting it a little too close.

My dos colones.....
You've got 2 full months before you go to CR. I'd do it now, and get it over with. It'll give you more peace of mind. There are all kinds of services, that you can find on the internet, where can get your passport renewed within a few business days. They cost a little more, but it might be worth it. Then, you'll have no worries for the next 10 years!

That would really suck if the CR Immigracion people put you back on a plane because of passport issues. Just DO IT!

MG

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Most helpful.

Thanks for the 411.

SF

I suggest getting it renewed as you will need to soon anyway. Mine expired in April 07 and I renewed it before my last trip in May since I had time between trips. I wouldn't want to chance it. You can request expedited service if you want to be absolutely sure you get it in plenty of time.rbc100

_________________
In Search of Fine Kittens,
Please... Bring back the Muff