Many countries—including Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and nearly all of Europe—require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your planned entry date.
The reality: Even if your trip is only 10 days long, if your passport expires in five months, you will likely be denied boarding. Airlines check this automatically during check-in and have no discretion to make exceptions.
The fix: Renew your passport at least nine months before it expires. Don't wait for the last minute. Treat your passport's expiry date like a hard deadline—not a suggestion.
B. MISSING OR INVALID VISAS AND ENTRY PERMITS
Some destinations now require electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) or visas—even for short tourist stays or transit. Brazil and several Caribbean nations have recently updated their entry requirements.
Travel & Transportation
The myth: "I'm just transiting" or "I've visited before" does not exempt you from current entry rules.
New in 2026: Several Latin American countries now verify eTA status at both departure and arrival points. If your digital authorization isn't active in the system, you won't be allowed to board.
The fix:
Always visit the official government immigration website of your destination—not third-party travel sites—to verify requirements.
Apply for any required permits at least 72 hours in advance. Some processing times can stretch to several business days.
C. NAME MISMATCHES BETWEEN DOCUMENTS
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