Does my passport need 6 months for the USA?

No. British passports only need to be valid for the duration of your stay, but your airline may have its own policy.

Is my ESTA linked to my passport?

Yes. If you renew your passport, you must apply for a new ESTA.

Check the official US government website. Avoid third-party sites that charge extra fees.

Destination guide

Passport rules for United States

The UK is in the US 'Six-Month Club', so your passport only needs to be valid for the length of your stay.

FCDO entry requirements for British citizens

Your passport must be valid for the whole of your stay in the USA.
You need an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before you travel.
ESTA requires an e-passport (with the chip symbol on the cover).
Visits are limited to 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program.

Visa / entry: ESTA required. Visa Waiver Program covers stays up to 90 days.

Check your passport for United States

Calculated in your browser — nothing is stored or sent.

Departure from UK

Return date

Passport issue date

Passport expiry date

I have at least 2 blank pages

Enter travel dates and the passport expiry date to see the result.

Travel extras: stay secure online abroad

NordVPN

Airport and hotel Wi-Fi is often unsecured. A VPN protects your banking, bookings and emails while abroad.

Get NordVPN

NordPass

Keep airline logins, booking references and travel documents in one secure password manager, on every device.

Get NordPass

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. This never affects our passport validity results.

United States passport FAQs

Other destinations

Spain Greece Turkey France Italy Portugal Cyprus Egypt Thailand United Arab Emirates Croatia Netherlands Morocco Malta

This tool gives guidance based on published FCDO entry requirements. Rules can change at short notice. Always check the official GOV.UK foreign travel advice before you travel.