The Department of State Extends Expired Passport Eligibility for Some US Citizens

Travelers qualify for this exception if all the following are true:

• They are a U.S. citizen.
• They are currently abroad seeking a direct return to the United States.
• They are flying directly to the United States, a United States territory, or have only short-term transit (“connecting flights”) through a foreign country on your direct return to the United States or to a United States Territory.
• Their expired passport was originally valid for 10 years. Or, if you were 15 years of age or younger when the passport was issued, your expired passport was valid for 5 years.
• Their expired passport is undamaged.
• Their expired passport is unaltered.
• Their expired passport is in your possession.

Travelers do not qualify for this exception if:

• They wish to depart from the United States to an international destination.
• They are currently abroad seeking to travel to a foreign country for any length of stay longer than an airport connection en route to the United States or to a United States territory.
• Their expired passport was limited in validity.
• Their expired passport is a special issuance passport (such as a diplomatic, official, service, or no-fee regular passport).
• Their expired passport is damaged.
• Their expired passport is altered.
• Their expired passport is not in your possession.

All other passport rules and regulations remain in effect. The Department of Homeland Security maintains discretion to reject any bearer in accordance with 22 CFR 53.2(b)(7) and 8 CFR 235.1(b).