Important news for US passport holders who remain overseas: Starting July 1, 2022, expired US passports will no longer be considered valid travel documents to re-enter the United States. Returning US citizens and nationals with expired passports will not be permitted to travel back to the US after June 30.
All US passport holders currently abroad with expired passports are urged by the State Department to apply for a new US passport immediately.
If you are currently outside the United States with an expired passport, you are advised to contact your local US Embassy or Consulate to seek assistance ahead of traveling back to the United States. American citizens are able to receive temporary passports for emergency travel, if necessary.
Temporary US passports can be issued in cases when the length of time required to apply for a regular US passport would prevent the traveler’s departure, and travel cannot be postponed. If you are in need of a temporary passport, contact the US Embassy or Consulate in the country you are currently in as soon as possible. Same-day issuance may be available on a case-by-case basis.
Why are Expired US Passports No Longer Valid?
Formerly, holding a valid, unexpired US passport was a prerequisite for all American citizens and noncitizen nationals traveling internationally. However, this requirement was relaxed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to worldwide border closings, all US citizens were temporarily allowed to return to the United States using an expired passport, so long as the return flight met certain conditions, and the passport had previously been valid for a total of 10 years from the date of issue.
Now that COVID-19 is transitioning to an endemic disease and borders are reopening around the globe, this temporary relaxation of travel restrictions is ending. All US passport holders abroad, including tourists and those traveling long-term, must have a valid, unexpired passport to re-enter the US.
In addition to applying for a new passport as soon as possible, the US Department of State also urges all US citizens and nationals traveling or living abroad to enroll in the STEP Program to receive Embassy updates about conditions in your destination country, connect you with US Embassy resources in cases of emergency, and help family and friends get in touch with you during times of need.
