The 'six-month club' — countries with the 6-month passport rule

The "six-month club" is travel industry slang for the countries that require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry. Here are the ones that matter most for UK, US and EU travellers.

Asia

• Thailand — strictly enforced at all entry points.
• Indonesia (incl. Bali) — Denpasar turns people back weekly.
• Singapore — enforced on arrival.
• Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines.
• China, Hong Kong (for some passports).

Middle East

• United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)
• Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain
• Egypt, Jordan

Americas

• Brazil — enforced.
• Ecuador, Venezuela, Suriname.
• Mexico — officially relaxed, but US carriers enforce it themselves.
• United States — applies the 6-month rule unless your country is in the "Six Month Club" reciprocity list (which means it's waived to "duration of stay" for nationals of around 100 countries including the UK).

Africa

• Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa (in practice — 30 days officially).

Where it's only 3 months — not 6

• EU / Schengen Area — 3 months beyond departure, plus the 10-year rule.
• New Zealand — 3 months beyond departure.

Where it's only the duration of your stay

• United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Japan.

Rule of thumb: if you have under 6 months on your passport, assume you can't go almost anywhere outside Europe and the English-speaking world. Renew first.