Blank passport pages — which countries actually require them
Some countries refuse entry if you don't have blank pages left. Here's exactly how many you need, where, and what counts as 'blank'.
Passport validity isn't the only thing that gets travellers turned away. A surprising number of countries also require blank pages — sometimes two, sometimes four — for visa stickers and entry stamps.
Two blank pages
South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Tanzania typically require two completely blank "visa" pages facing each other. Endorsement pages don't count.
One blank page
China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Brazil, Egypt, India and most of the Middle East require at least one blank page for the entry stamp.
No blank-page requirement
EU/Schengen, UK, US, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand don't require any specific number of blank pages — though running out of room can still cause issues over the life of a passport.
What counts as blank
Pages marked "Visas" or "Endorsements" only — not the amendment or notes pages. A blank page must be fully unstamped on both sides for visa-issuing countries.
If you're running low
You can't add pages to most modern passports (the US stopped issuing extra pages in 2016). The only fix is a full renewal.
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