Definition
A common entry rule: your passport must stay valid for at least six months beyond the date you arrive (or, for some countries, the date you leave). Airlines check this in India and refuse boarding if you fall short.
Why the six-month rule matters
Many countries, including the UAE, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam, expect at least six months' validity on arrival. Schengen countries ask for three months beyond your planned exit, and the passport must have been issued within the last ten years. Rules vary, so check the destination.
Airlines check these rules through an industry database at check-in. If your passport falls short, you don't fly, however valid your visa is.
Example
Your passport expires on 15 March 2027. You plan Dubai for Christmas, landing on 22 December 2026. That leaves under three months of validity, and the airline will refuse boarding. The fix is a passport re-issue before you apply for the visa, through Tatkal if time is tight.
Other passport checks people miss
- Blank pages: most countries want at least two blank visa pages. Frequent travellers with a 36-page booklet run out; ask for 60 pages at re-issue.
- Damage: water damage, torn pages or a loose cover can lead to refusal at boarding or immigration.
- Old passport: if your valid visa is in an old passport, carry both.
Practical advice
Check every family member's expiry date before you book anything, especially children's passports, which are valid for only five years or until age 18. Re-issue when about a year is left. Longer visas, such as a two-year Schengen visa under the cascade, are not issued beyond your passport's validity, so an expiring passport costs you more than one trip.
See per-country rules in our visa hub.