After visiting over 90 countries and traveling full-time for years, we thought we knew everything about passport rules.
But then we almost got denied boarding for a flight to South Africa.
Not because our passport was expired. Not because we forgot a visa. Because we didn’t have enough blank passport pages. This could happen to anyone. And it is something most travelers never think about until it is too late.
Here are the three things you need to check right now before your next international trip.
Check Your Expiration Date
This is the most obvious passport rule. But it trips people up all the time.
Many countries will not let you in if your passport expires soon, even if it is technically valid.
The rules are different by region. For example, most countries in Asia, Africa, and South America require your passport to be valid for at least six months from your arrival date. In Europe, most Schengen countries require it to be valid for at least three months after your departure date.
We’ve met travelers who were turned away at the airport because they had five months left until their passport expiration instead of six. Or because they planned a long trip and didn’t realize the return date pushed them past the cutoff.
Always double-check the entry rules for the country you’re visiting. And if your passport is close to expiring, renew it now. Do not wait.
Check Visa Requirements
Visa rules are constantly changing.
Just because you did not need a visa before doesn’t mean you don’t need one now. Some countries require visas in advance. Some let you apply online. Others give you a visa on arrival. And some require a visa even if you are just transiting.
We always double-check entry rules before every trip, even for countries we’ve been to before.
One of the biggest changes coming soon is in the European Union. By the end of 2025, most travelers from the U.S., Canada, and other visa-exempt countries will need to apply online for travel authorization before entering the EU. It will be a simple process, but it is not optional.
We’ve also run into visa surprises in places like Turkey, where the rules changed overnight.
Always check the official government website or a trusted visa service before you fly.
Check How Many Blank Passport Pages You Have
This is the rule that almost cost us a trip to South Africa.
We were standing at the gate, ready to board. The agent flipped through Lisa’s passport and said, “You might not have enough blank pages.”
Lisa had two at the back. We thought that would be fine.
But it turns out South Africa requires two consecutive blank visa pages, not just any two.
Other countries like Botswana and Zambia require three completely blank pages. Not partially used pages. Not pages with space around a stamp. Fully blank pages.
We had never thought about this before. No one tells you this when you book a flight.
And we’ve learned that a single misplaced stamp can make a page unusable for some countries.
Even in parts of Europe and South America, you could be denied entry or delayed if your passport doesn’t have enough blank space.
This is one of the most overlooked travel details. But it’s critical. Always check how many blank passport pages you have before your next international trip.
Our Pro Tip for Extra Protection
Now, we do one simple thing to avoid this problem.
We put sticky notes on the last four pages of our passports that say DO NOT STAMP.
We do this because immigration officers don’t always stamp in order. And one random stamp on the wrong page can mean you no longer have the required number of blank pages for a future trip.
This tiny habit gives us peace of mind. It also helps preserve those pages for the countries that require them.
Final Thought
Your passport is more than just valid or expired.
You need to check the details that airlines and immigration officers care about.
Make sure your passport has enough time left before it expires.
Make sure you’ve checked the latest visa requirements.
And always, always check how many blank passport pages you have before heading to the airport.
One missed detail can cost you a flight or an entire trip. Don’t let it.
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