Even if your passport is current - it still might not be valid
Submitted by Wanderlust AndiCheck your passport - is it current? If so - you still might not be good to go - even if it is valid for the duration of your planned trip.
For, if you are going to France, not only do you need a valid passport, but the passport needs to be valid for 6 months after your arrive - and 3 months after your scheduled departure. And, Switzerland requires that your passport is valid for 3 months after you arrive.
And - even if you are going to just pop into Mexico, your passport must be valid for 6 months from the time you enter Mexico.
To be sure your meet the requirements, check the U.S. Passports and International Travel site at https://travel.state.gov. There, you can check your destination for passport validity requirements.
And - while you are at the website - you can also check to see if you need blank passport pages, a tourist visa, vaccinations, and if there are currency restrictions. Plus, the site is chockfull of useful country-specific traveling information, such as travel alerts, water quality, the quality of health care, and driving requirements.
So - read up, prepare yourself - and then enjoy your trip!
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In 2015 and before, you could get additional pages added to your passport if you were one of those lucky people that traveled extensively. But, as of 2016, you can either get a 52-page passport when you renew your passport, OR you can get an additional passport (for a fee) to accommodate your need for all of those pages.
The Design of Your Passport is About to Change
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There will be special ink that seems to be green from some angles and gold from other angles. Some of the printing of designs will be tactile, that is, raised above the surface of the paper.