Almost ten years ago, the law requiring a passport to travel to and from Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean was passed. Not surprisingly, the State Department saw a huge surge in new passport applications and passport renewals for the following few years. Now, 10 years later, those same passports are about to expire. And the State Department anticipates a rise in renewals, leading again to processing delays.
What to expect with passport renewals and other updates:
- The typical timeframe for passport renewals is six weeks. With this increase in demand, longer delays are expected.
- Whether for business or pleasure, begin the renewal process of your process of your passport as soon as you can. Avoid the additional stress of waiting for the new passport in a time crunch if you can.
- Newer passports now include microchip technology, which is compliant with REAL ID act security and fraud prevention. But, depending on what state you live in, you may need an updated passport to fly domestically. Read more about the details of the REAL ID Act and commercial flying in our latest blog.
- Be sure to check children’s passports too. Child passports expire after only five years.
- Most destinations require a three-six month passport validity to even enter the country. Read the reasons in our passport tips blog. This is an often overlooked fact, leaving many unable to fly abroad. And yet another reason to know your renewal date.
The main point — if your passport is due to expire in the next few years, expect a long processing delay. You never know when a trip opportunity may suddenly arise, especially for frequent business travelers. Be smart and get the renewal process started ASAP.
Christopherson Business Travel is a travel management company for businesses. We specialize in superior travel technology and passionate account management. With more than 60 years of experince, Christopherson is privately owned and based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
