US Citizens Abroad May Return to the US on Expired Passports through December 31, 2021

In an effort to alleviate travel related difficulties and the lengthy appointment backlogs created by the global COVID-19 pandemic at US Embassies and Consulates worldwide, the State Department in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security announced that “U.S. citizens currently overseas whose passports expired on or after January 1, 2020, may be able to use their expired U.S. passport for direct return travel to the United States until December 31, 2021.” The State Department’s new exception for expired passports applies to adults, whose documents are valid for 10 years, and to children, whose passports expire after 5 years. It applies only when entering the United States.

To qualify for this exception, individuals entering U.S. must be:

  • A U.S. citizen;

  • Currently abroad seeking direct return to the US;

  • Flying directly to the United States, a United States territory, or have only short-term transit (“connecting flights”) through a foreign country on your direct return to the United States or to a United States Territory;

  • Traveling with expired passport originally valid for 10 years.  Or, if 15 years of age or younger when the passport was issued, expired passport must have been valid for 5 years;

Moreover, the expired passport must be:

  • undamaged;

  • unaltered; and

  • In the individual's possession.

The State Department continues to strongly recommend against US citizens traveling abroad at this time. When renewing a US passport in the US, citizens should also keep mind passport application times reported by the Department of State and plan accordingly.  

UPDATE July 8, 2022: United States Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) announced it will no longer honor expired United States passports after June 30, 2022. This announcement ended the practice to allow US citizens to use their expired US passport for direct return to the United States during the Covid-19 pandemic due to delays in processing applications. CBP urges those with expired passports to “please contact your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to apply for a U.S. passport."