There is always some prestige associated with visiting a foreign country. But, your dreams of visiting a foreign country can’t come true if don’t have a passport. This is the document the immigration department checks every time you are entering or living a foreign country. In the United States, a passport is not only a travel document but can as well be used for identity verification purposes. The document has an expiry date needs to be renewed and this brings us to our question: how long does a passport last? Continue reading for detailed information on how long a passport lasts.
Why do you need to renew a passport?
At times one may wonder why the government has to make people renew their passports. Why not issue a document that will serve you till you kick the bucket? Like for example a birth certificate! Or, has anyone ever asked you to renew your birth certificate?
Age
Technically, as you age everything including your physical appearance changes. If you acquire a passport at 18 years chances are 10 or 20 years later you will be a completely different person who barely resembles the picture in the passport. Imagine if passports were never renewed, staffs at the immigration department would have a rough time trying to identify a 60-year-old man from a photo he took when he was 18 years. It is for this reason that passports have to be renewed.
Changing rules and regulations
Most countries have a set of rules and specification for a passport to be accepted. With these rules changing it becomes necessary to renew passports so as to give room to accommodate these changes.
Change in physical appearance
There are various reasons that can have one change his/her physical appearance to an extent that they cannot be identified from their passport photo. Some of this reason include an accident that might distort the face, tattoos, medical conditions, and bleaching. In fact, if for any reason you can’t be identified from your passport photo it is required by the law that you renew your passport even if it hasn’t expired yet.
Income
The government has to make money and passport fee makes a good source of revenue.
How long does a passport last?
Different passports have different expiry dates. If you want to acquire a passport for your son or daughter who is 15 years and below you will have to apply for the minors’ passports. These passports are necessary if you are planning to travel with your children to a foreign country. The passport expires after 5 years. This means that after 5 years you will have to renew the passport.
When ones hit 16 years he/she is not issued with a minor’s passport. This is the age that one is legally allowed to acquire an adult’s passport. The passport lasts for 10 years and during this period it can be used as a travel document as well as identity verification document.
Normally, one is only allowed to have one passport but there are some circumstances that demand one to have two passports. In such a case a second passport is issued. This passport expires after 4 years and it is issued to those who wish to tour more than one country before coming back home.
How to get a passport
Whether you are renewing your passport or this is the first time application at Texas Passports we offer the best services. We deliver passports within 24 hours at affordable prices and it doesn’t stop there. We will also give you a contact list of embassies that you can call in case of an emergency.