05/16/2023
Summer travel is Approaching
**Travel Update** PASSPORTS
Dream Teams Travel Clients
Here is a very useful website https://www.rushmypassport.com/blog/passport-validity-for-top-destinations/
for all my clients and friends who ask about passports expiration dates and applications. Technically you need a passport that is valid 6months after your completed travel date. This is NOT new. It has been in effect for years. However if you are in situation and find yourself needing to travel internationally inside the 6th month period before yours expires here is a list of each countries individual rules.
The three main countries who will not allow exceptions are ITALY, FRANCE 6mth rule applies and GERMANY 3 mth rule applies. All others like Mexico & Canada & parts of Caribbean have their own rules. Please look at your passports before traveling on all cruises, or international destinations. I have had clients DENIED boarding to Italy and France thinking they could still travel if the passport was valid but inside the 6th month range. You will save yourself much disappointment if you are prepared!
Applications & Renewals are taking 7-9 weeks expedited 12-16 weeks non expedited. That time frame is only for processing your passport and DOES NOT INCLUDE mailing time (usually 2-3 weeks to get to passport center & 2-3 weeks from passport center to your address. That means allowing 1.5 months extra time for mailing on top of passport processing times! You can & I always recommend paying for next day mail on the passport along with expedited fees.
There are also companies which are known as special circumstance agencies (separate from US Passport agency) they can help in certain situations but will charge expensive fees $500-1000 per passport to process & expedite within 2 weeks. Reach out to me if you need their phone numbers and services. All other inquiries can be made directly through US passport website.
If you're planning an international trip, there's an important passport validity requirement that you should know about: the six-month validity rule. Many countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months before your planned departure date, and failure to comply with this require...