Your passport might not work in 2025

If your New Year’s resolution was to travel more, don’t just double-check your passport expiration.
Your ID may be rendered useless when flying due to new travel restrictions that will be enacted in 2025.
Starting in May, all travelers will be required to use a Real ID — or appropriate alternative, like a passport — in order to take domestic flights or enter some government buildings, according to Gothamist.
4 A number of new travel regulations are set to be enacted this year, which will require extra steps for passengers wanting to travel both domestically and abroad. kieferpix – stock.adobe.com
The implementation of the updated identification requirement has been postponed a number of times due to the pandemic, reported Good Morning America.
According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, a Real ID in New York is denoted with a star or flag. A license without one of those symbols is not a Real ID and therefore will not be a valid form of identification at airports.
When traveling across the pond, American passengers jet setting to the UK on or after Jan. 8 will be required to register with the Electronic Travel Authorization program in order to be vetted before entering the country.
Anyone outside of the UK and Ireland visiting for six months or less and for business or study will be required to apply through the ETA program, which costs about $13 and is valid for two years.
“The worldwide expansion of the ETA demonstrates our commitment to enhance security through new technology and embedding a modern immigration system,” Seema Malhotra, the minister for Migration and Citizenship, previously said in a statement.
4 While a passport is a valid form of identification, if domestic travelers do not have a Real ID, it may be useless if flying abroad if it’s too close to expiring. kosoff – stock.adobe.com
4 New regulations in the UK and Europe will require visitors to apply for authorization prior to arrival. 1000 Words – stock.adobe.com
Similarly, travelers will be required to apply for entry to Europe through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which will go into effect in May after multiple postponements.
While it costs just over $7 to apply, it could take days to weeks to receive a response, so plan accordingly.
The ETIAS application requires personal information such as name, birthday, contact info, education level, details of your travel and more. Travelers will also be required to have a valid travel document, such as a passport, which cannot expire in less than three months nor can it be older than a decade, according to the official website.
Once approved, it is valid for up to three years or passport expiration, whichever is first.
Travelers can be denied plane boarding due to nearly-expired documents.
Certain destinations have rules in place that do not authorize travel if a visitor’s passport is set to expire in less than three or six months. Some even require a certain number of blank passport pages in order to allow passengers on board.
4 “For a seamless travel experience, I recommend that the renewal process be started at least one year before a passport expires to ensure you get your new book in time and can enjoy your vacation without any hiccups,” said Russell. Jenna Hidinger Photo – stock.adobe.com
“Unfortunately, many travelers are not aware of passport requirements and have to cancel plans or may even arrive at the airport and be denied boarding,” travel advisor Sara Russell previously told Fox News.
“For a seamless travel experience, I recommend that the renewal process be started at least one year before a passport expires to ensure you get your new book in time and can enjoy your vacation without any hiccups.”