Can you travel with an expired passport to your home country

American citizens can now return from abroad on expired passports through June 30, the State Department has announced. 

The temporary measure, which last extended in December, had been set to expire on March 31. 

"This extension will lessen ongoing travel difficulties created by the global Covid-19 pandemic," the State Department said. 

The measure does not apply to travel from the U.S. to another country. In addition, American citizens who are abroad are not permitted to use an expired passport to travel to another country for any length of stay longer than an airport connection en route to the U.S. or a U.S. territory. 

Travelers should confirm their eligibility for traveling on an expired passport prior to finalizing travel arrangements, the State Department said.

According to a 2021 Economist/YouGov poll, only one-third of Americans hold a valid passport. What do you do if you need to travel abroad urgently, but your U.S. passport has expired? You will need to follow the official procedures to be allowed to leave or return to the U.S. 

The first thing to bear in mind is that an expired passport is never considered a valid document and, whatever the case may be, you will need to obtain another travel document.

So, if you are in this situation, read on as we will go over everything you need to know about emergency travel with an expired passport.

What will you find in this article?

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Can you travel with an expired passport to your home country

Expired passport – what to do

As stated above, if you find yourself with an expired passport, you won’t be allowed to board a plane with it and, even if you manage to do so, the port authorities at your destination will send you back to the U.S. on the first available flight.

The first thing you should do if you have enough time is to apply for a passport renewal. The processing time will be between 8 (eight) and 11 (eleven) weeks, plus the time needed to mail it. See more about passport renewal here.

In other cases (like a life or death emergency or to get back into the U.S.), you can obtain an emergency passport that will allow short-term travel outside the country.

In any other situation, you can only fly internationally with a valid passport book.

Passport nearing its expiry date? Get ahead of the game and up to speed by reading:

Passport nearing its expiry date? Get ahead of the game and up to speed by reading:

  • Can You Travel To Mexico With A Passport That Expires In 2 Months?
  • Can Venezuelans Travel With Expired Passport?
  • Can I Travel To El Salvador With an Expired Passport?
  • Can I Travel to India if My Passport Expires in 3 Months or Sooner?
  • Can I Travel if the Names on My Passport and Green Card Don’t Match?
  • Lost Expired Passport—What Should You Do?
  • Do You Need a Passport to Go to Alaska?

Passport expired emergency – different possibilities

Even if the general rule is that you cannot travel with an expired passport, there are differences between domestic and international travel, different means of transportation (plane, ship, and so on), and between individual countries.

Emergency travel with an expired passport – inside the US

Even for domestic flights, an expired passport will not be considered valid and, therefore, you will not be able to travel with it.

The good news is that you don’t need a passport to travel inside the United States, as many different forms of photo ID are acceptable. So, even if your passport has expired, you can still board domestic flights by using another document, such as a driver’s license.

However: starting from May 3 2023, when the Real ID Act takes effect, many documents, such as a regular driver’s license, will no longer be accepted for domestic air travel. You still won’t be required to carry a passport, however, you will need to make sure that your document is considered valid.

Emergency travel with an expired passport – international travel

If you need to travel outside the U.S. and your passport has expired, there are a few possible scenarios.

If you want to fly back to the U.S., the only possible solution is to get an emergency passport – an expired passport or any other kind of ID will not be accepted. To obtain this document, you will need to contact the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate. They will require you to provide:

  • a 2×2 passport photo
  • another form of photo ID
  • proof of U.S. citizenship.

Within a couple of hours, you will be issued an emergency passport that will allow you to fly back to the U.S. You can use this emergency travel document only to travel back home as other countries will not consider it valid. Once you are in the U.S. again, you should renew your expired passport to be allowed to travel outside the country again.

If you need to travel outside the U.S. instead, the situation is much more restricted, however, there are a few cases in which an emergency passport can be issued. For a life or death emergency in your immediate family while in a foreign country, you can request this document that will allow you to travel outside the country for 3 (three) business days.

To issue this kind of passport, the Department of State requires you to present the following documents:

  • a statement from a hospital detailing the nature of the emergency (translated if issued in a foreign language) as proof of emergency for a passport;
  • proof that your travel will last no more than 3 (three) business days (for example airline tickets);
  • a passport application form with all the necessary supporting documents.

You will be able to get an emergency passport in 72 (seventy-two) hours.

If you can wait for 5 (five) to 7 (seven) weeks, you can request an expedited passport without needing to justify your reasons, and pay an additional $60 (sixty) fee. This way, you will get a regular U.S. passport.

If you need to travel to either Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean by land or sea, you will likely not be asked to show your passport on the way in, just a government-issued photo ID (Enhanced driver’s license, Trusted Traveler card, passport card).

However, you will need a valid passport to be allowed back into the U.S. without problems. If you don’t have one, border officials might choose to detain you until they can prove your citizenship.

However, there are some exceptions for closed-loop cruises (starting and ending in the same U.S. port) that will allow you to take the trip without the need for a passport.

For air travel to these countries, only a valid passport book will be accepted.

Expired passport – precautions

The first thing you should do to avoid problems with an expired passport is to renew it at least 6 (six) months before the end of its validity. This is a useful practice, especially if you need to travel internationally very often.

To avoid being caught by surprise, you should also keep copies of all the documents that you might need to provide when requesting an emergency passport, such as your birth certificate and any form of government-issued photo ID.

For any passport-related emergency abroad, be sure to note where the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate is located and save their information – they will definitely be able to help in most situations.

As you can see, an expired passport is never an acceptable travel document.

If you have to travel inside the U.S., you can use a government-issued photo ID to board flights, instead of your passport.

For international travel, the only acceptable document is a valid passport book. If that expires, gets lost or is stolen, you will need to obtain an emergency passport.

So, remember to renew the passport every 10 years and keep copies of all your documents, you will avoid all potential problems and have a much more relaxed travel experience.

Professional and easy photos for your emergency passport

If you’re in need of an emergency U.S. passport, time is most likely of the essence to you. Why not save time getting compliant passport photos using a reliable and AI-backed app that’s available on both iOS and Android devices?

Passport Photo Online is a friendly and easy-to-use tool that will help you prepare a perfect photo for your document by:

  • removing the background and replacing it with a plain white one if necessary;
  • removing any unwanted objects (such as hands or toys in case of children’s photos);
  • removing red-eye;
  • cropping your photo to the correct dimensions of 2×2 inches;
  • AI-scanning your picture for even the smallest errors and letting you know about it immediately. 

Each photo is also checked by a human photo expert for extra verification. Passport applicants can opt for a digital photo to be sent to their email or a printed version delivered to their street address. In the unlikely event of the photo not being accepted by the passport agency, you are entitled to a 200% refund from the company.

Expired passport emergency travel: FAQ

In this part, we will recap all of the most important information regarding emergency travel with an expired passport. 

Can you travel without a passport in an emergency?

No, a passport is required for all international flights. On domestic flights, you are allowed to use other forms of government-issued photo ID. If you need to leave the country and your passport is expired, you will need to apply for an emergency passport, issued only in some cases by the Department of State.

Can I travel with an expired passport to my country?

No, if your passport expired in another country, you will need to request an emergency passport at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Can you travel with a soon-to-expire passport?

For domestic flights, there will be no problem. For international travel, you will need a passport that expires after you reenter your country.

What happens if you travel with an expired passport?

If you attempt to travel with an expired passport, most likely you will not be allowed to board the plane. If you do somehow manage to get to another country, the local authorities will immediately send you back.

What is considered an emergency to travel with an expired passport?

You are never allowed to use an expired passport as a travel document. For a life or death emergency, you can request an emergency passport.

How long does an emergency passport last?

Generally, an emergency passport lasts for 3 (three) business days. If issued by an embassy or consulate, it will only be valid to get back to the U.S. territory.

Summing up

As you can see, an expired passport is never an acceptable travel document.

If you have to travel inside the U.S., you can use a government-issued photo ID instead of your passport to board domestic flights.

For international travel, the only acceptable document is a valid passport book. If that expires, gets lost, or is stolen, you will need to obtain an emergency passport.

So, remember to renew your passport every 10 (ten) years and keep copies of all your documents – you will avoid all potential problems and have a much more relaxed travel experience.For 100% compliant photos for your emergency passport application, try Passport Photo Online. You will get a hassle-free photo that meets all the U.S. government standards, verified by an AI system and a human expert.

Can you travel with an expired passport to your home country

Karolina’s passion for law, technology and photography led her to PhotoAiD S.A., where for the past 3 years she has been an expert in the implementation of passport photo compliance procedures in +80 countries around the world.

What happens if you leave the country with an expired passport?

Overall, what will likely happen if you try and travel on an expired passport is that you'll get stopped by airport security, and will be denied boarding your flight. Say goodbye to that long-awaited vacation. If you have an expired passport, don't risk it – use Swift's expedited passport service instead!

Is it okay to travel with an expired passport?

The short answer is “no,” at least not if you're traveling out of the country. An expired passport is simply not acceptable for international travel. If your passport is expired or is expiring within the next 6 months, you need to renew your passport.

Can I travel back to my home country Nigeria with an expired passport?

The Minister disclosed that Nigerians can return safely to Nigeria either with expired Nigerian passports or non-expired Nigerian passports.

Can you travel with an expired passport to your home country from UK?

No, you can't travel back to your country on an expired passport if your passport expires while you're away. In fact, if your passport is due to expire before the return flight to your country, you won't be allowed to enter the country that you're visiting in the first place.