What to know about passports this summer

Travelers are flocking to international destinations this summer to make up for canceled trips during the pandemic.

But during the pandemic, some travelers may have forgotten about one key part of international travel: a passport.

The U.S. Department of State is estimating 10 to 13 weeks of processing for routine passports, and seven to nine weeks for expedited passports, not accounting for mailing times. In March, the department said it was expecting this summer to be the busiest travel season on record.

If you’re a traveler dealing with the long waits to get a passport this summer, experts are sharing advice to get appointments for applications and renewals.

Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper recommends that travelers check passport rules for the country they are traveling. Some airlines will not allow passengers with less than six months of passport validity from their trip to board flights.

The U.S. Department of State’s website said countries that require six months of validity include: Mainland China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Burma, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan, Israel, Egypt and Turkey.

Expedited passports are an option, though companies that offer the service can charge hefty fees. G3 Global Services, a private company that charges fees for expedited visas and passports, charges anywhere from $179 to $749 in service fees, depending on how quickly the traveler needs the passport.

Names on the passport also have to match names on tickets. A nickname mismatch may not allow some travelers to board, Berg said.

Edgar Miranda, office coordinator at the University of Texas at Dallas’ passport center, said travelers who aren’t flying, but taking a cruise, also need to be mindful of their passport status.

“Just because you’re not getting on a plane, you’re still essentially leaving the country,” Miranda said. “Look at your passports, look at your kids’ passports.”

U.S. passports for adults are valid for 10 years and passports for children younger than 16 are valid five years. A passport card, which the U.S. began issuing in 2008 for U.S. travelers from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and Caribbean countries by land or sea, is valid for the same length as a passport.