Passport Expiry Calculator
Add 10 or 5 years to a passport issue date and get a 6 month renewal reminder.
What it does
Passport dates decide whether a trip boards or stops at check in. Airlines and border posts read the expiry line, then many demand 6 months left beyond the travel dates, so the safe renewal date sits well before expiry.
The tool above takes the issue date and applicant type. It adds 10 years for adult applicants and 5 years for children under 16, then sets a renewal reminder 6 months before expiry, all in UTC so time zones cannot shift the day.
This math fits standard US passport books. It does not fit limited validity documents, emergency passports, or foreign passports with different year counts and renewal rules.
US guidance draws the same bands: passports for children under 16 last 5 years and cannot renew by mail, while adult books last 10 years with mail or online renewal when eligible. The 6 month travel rule appears on destination pages across the State system.
Enter the issue date from the data page, not the application date. Then book travel against the renew by line, not the expiry line, and renewal stress drops.
How to use
- Pick the issue date printed on the data page.
- Pick adult for 16 plus or child for under 16.
- Read the expiry date first for the document line.
- Read validity to confirm 10 or 5 years.
- Read renew by for the safe travel cutoff.
- Start renewal at renew by, since processing takes weeks.
Formula
- issue
- Issue date on the passport data page.
- adult
- Age 16 plus at issue, 10 year validity.
- minor
- Under 16 at issue, 5 year validity.
Dates calculate in UTC with month math that rolls across year ends. Feb 29 issues roll to Mar 1 in non leap expiry years. Future issue dates are rejected as invalid.
Worked example
Example: issued Mar 15 2020, adult
Issue date 2020-03-15, applicant adult 16 plus.
- Validity: adult gives 10 years.
- Expiry: Mar 15 2020 plus 10 years is Fri Mar 15 2030.
- Renew by: 6 months before expiry is Sat Sep 15 2029.
- Tool shows expiry Fri Mar 15 2030, validity 10 years, renew by Sat Sep 15 2029.
- Travel rule: book trips to end before Sep 15 2029 to keep 6 months left.
Reference table
| Applicant | Validity | Expiry | Renew by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child under 16 | 5 years | Sat Mar 15 2025 | Sun Sep 15 2024 |
| Adult 16 plus | 10 years | Fri Mar 15 2030 | Sat Sep 15 2029 |
Limits
- US books only. Other countries use different year counts.
- Ages 16 to 17 count as adult validity but apply in person.
- Lost, damaged, or limited documents follow special rules.
- Destination 6 month rules vary, so check each country page.
Common mistakes
- Using application date instead of printed issue date.
- Giving a child under 16 the 10 year adult span.
- Booking travel against expiry instead of renew by.
- Forgetting that 16 to 17 cannot renew by mail.
- Ignoring leap day rollover on Feb 29 issues.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
Issued Jun 01 2022, child under 16?
Expiry Tue Jun 01 2027, validity 5 years, renew by Tue Dec 01 2026.
Issued Jan 10 2019, adult?
Expiry Wed Jan 10 2029, validity 10 years, renew by Mon Jul 10 2028.
Issued Mar 15 2025, child under 16?
Expiry Fri Mar 15 2030, validity 5 years, renew by Sat Sep 15 2029.
Questions
How long is a US adult passport valid?
10 years from issue for age 16 plus. Add 10 years to the issue date for expiry.
How long is a child passport valid?
5 years for under 16 at issue. Add 5 years, and apply in person for the next one.
What does renew by mean?
Expiry minus 6 months. Many destinations demand 6 months left, so treat it as the travel cutoff.
Can a 16 year old renew by mail?
No if the prior book was issued before 16. Ages 16 to 17 apply in person with adult validity.
What about Feb 29 issue dates?
Expiry rolls to Mar 1 in non leap years. The page uses UTC date math for the shift.
When should I start renewal?
At the renew by line or earlier. Processing varies by season and can take weeks.