Leading an international short-term mission trip requires lots of prayer, preparation and attention to detail. Visas and passports comprise just a few of the many details you need to tend to, but they are among the most important details. The country your team visits may or may not require a visa, but it will certainly require a valid US passport. In recent years, more and more countries have adopted the mysterious “six month passport rule,” a rule that continues to catch unsuspecting travelers by surprise. The “six month passport rule” is a policy adopted and enforced on a per-country basis. If you are traveling with a U.S. passport to Europe, Asia, South America or a host of other areas, the country you are visiting will likely require that your U.S. Passport be valid for 6 months following your expected date of departure (not date of entry). Often perceived as just a nuisance or ...
