What to Do with an Expired Passport

Passports don’t last forever — most are valid for 5 or 10 years before expiring. Unlike birth certificates, they are not automatically reissued, and once expired, they cannot be used for international travel.

But what should you do with your old passport after you receive a new one? Surprisingly, an expired passport can still have value and shouldn’t be thrown away carelessly.

Reasons to Keep an Expired Passport

There are several good reasons to hold on to your expired passport and store it safely:

• Valid visas inside: Paper visas may still be attached. While you can’t travel with them in the old passport, they could be important for records.

• Identity verification: Some countries allow expired passports to serve as an additional form of ID.

• Proof of citizenship: An expired passport can sometimes be used instead of a birth certificate when applying for a new passport, as long as the photo still matches your current appearance.

• Memories and keepsakes: Old stamps and visas can bring back travel memories and serve as souvenirs.

Creative Uses for Old Passports

Beyond practical reasons, expired passports can also be repurposed:

• Frame pages with stamps as a travel memento.

• Use them as conversation pieces or gifts.

• Keep them for family history and inspiration.

If you decide to dispose of an expired passport, destroy it first by cutting through the data page to protect your personal information.

Renewing an Expired Passport

If your passport has expired, you’ll need to apply for a new one before traveling internationally. The renewal process usually requires submitting your old passport to your government’s passport agency, either in person or by mail.

• Authorities may return your expired passport after canceling it — often with a corner cut off, a hole punched, or a stamp marked “invalid.”

• Keeping your old passport can speed up the application process, as it confirms your identity and citizenship.

Key Takeaway

An expired passport should never be used for international travel, but it can still be useful — as proof of citizenship, as ID, or simply as a cherished keepsake. Keep it safe until your new passport is issued, and consider holding onto it even afterward for practical and personal reasons.