20/07/2026
4 Travel passport things you must know.
1). If your travel passport is expiring in less than 6 months, you can denied boarding. As a rule of thumb ensure you have more than 6 months validity for your passport before you book a flight or plan to Japa. A number of Schengen countries allow for 3 months passport validity. New Zealand does too. However, it is wise to have more validity on your passport than less. Ensure your return trip is before it expires. Otherwise, if you are traveling for study, make plans to arrange for passport renewal in the embassy of your new Japa destination (this can be stressful).
2). If your passport has more than 1 year validity on it, you must not renew it to apply for a visa. Yes! Your passport validity affects the length of the visa given to you however, if you are travelling for a short period of time, it is not a problem. Some countries can still grant you visa that extends beyond the validity of your current passport.
3). If your passport expires and it has the old visa stamp in it, you can travel with the old passport and the new one together. In many cases, you don't need to inform immigration except it is a study permit, PR or other visa types that specifically requires that immigration be informed of the new passport. For instance, if you had a Canadian visit visa on your old passport, and you renew it, you are not required to inform Canadian immigration of your new passport before you travel. Your new passport details will be captured in the e-gates on entry.
4). You can buy a one-way ticket if you are travelling for study, work visa, Permanent Residency but you need a two-way or return ticket for visit visas, conferences, business visa, medical tourist visa, religious events and visits etc. If you don't have a return ticket for the latter, you will be denied boarding even if you have a valid visa.
Remember, always check with the immigration of the country you are based for information regarding passports, visas and the likes so you are constantly abreast of all the latest information before you travel.
