Hi, I’m planning a trip back to the US in August with my kid (who is half-Japanese and has both US and Japanese passports) but I just realized her US passport expires in late September. I’ve seen this “six month rule” thing on various websites saying that a visitor’s passport needs to be valid for six months past the intended period of stay, but does this apply to US passport holders as well? Since she’s under 16 we would have to renew her passport in person at the Consulate and it’s super inconvenient to do so right now. Anyway, thanks for any help.
5 comments
It doesn’t have to be valid for 6 months for citizens,
https://jp.usembassy.gov/services/frequently-asked-questions/#q21
You’re best just to reup it at the embassy here. It takes very little time (like go and apply and leave with it in hand) compared with the States.
6months when you are visiting foreign countries. Doesn’t apply when returning to the passport country.
You might have trouble coming back to Japan if the US passport doesn’t have six months (I’ve heard of people not being allowed on the plane).
I’m not sure about how it would work for dual citizens, since you need to use the US passport to enter and leave the US, but Japanese passport to enter and leave Japan.
Safer and more to responsible to renew it now, even if it’s “inconvenient”.
There’s no problem. She isn’t a visitor., she is a citizen. You can return to the US with 1 day left on your US passport. The validity of her US passport has no impact on her returning to Japan on her Japanese passport.