[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 22, Volume 1] [Revised as of April 1, 2003] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 22CFR51.4] [Page 255-256] TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE PART 51--PASSPORTS--Table of Contents Subpart A--General Sec. 51.4 Validity of passports. (a) Signature of bearer. A passport is valid only when signed by the bearer in the space designated for his signature. (b) Period of validity of a regular passport. (1) A regular passport issued on or after February 1, 1998, to an applicant 16 years of age or older is valid for 10 years from date of issue unless limited by the Secretary to a shorter period. (2) A regular passport issued on or after February 1, 1998 to an applicant under the age of 16 years is valid for 5 years from date of issue unless limited by the Secretary of State to a shorter period. (3) The period of validity of a regular passport issued on or after January 1, 1983, and before February 1, 1998, unless limited by the Secretary of State to a shorter period is: 10 years from date of issue if issued to an applicant age 18 or older; five years from date of issue if issued to an applicant under age 18. (4) The period of validity of a regular passport issued prior to January 1, 1983, is five years from date of issue. [[Page 256]] (c) Period of validity of an official passport. An official passport is normally valid for a period of 5 years from the date of issue as long as the bearer maintains the official status for which it is issued. It must be returned to the Department upon the termination of the bearer's official status. (d) Period of validity of a diplomatic passport. A diplomatic passport issued on or after January 1, 1977 is valid for a period of five (5) years or so long as the bearer maintains his/her diplomatic status, whichever is shorter. A diplomatic passport which has not expired must be returned to the Department upon the termination of the bearer's diplomatic status or at such other time as the Secretary shall determine. Any outstanding diplomatic passport issued before January 1, 1977 will expire effective December 31, 1977. (e) Period of a regular passport issued for no fee. A regular passport for which payment of the fee has been excused is valid for a period of 5 years from the date of issue unless limited by the Secretary to a shorter period. (f) Limitation and extension of validity. The validity period of any passport may be limited by the Secretary to less than the normal validity period. Applications for extension of passports limited to less than the normal full validity period must be made in writing and must be submitted, with the passport, to a passport issuing Office. In no event may a passport be extended beyond the normal period of validity prescribed for such passport by paragraphs (b) through (e) of this section. (g) Cancellation of passport endorsed as valid only for travel to Israel. The validity of any passport which has been issued and endorsed as valid only for travel to Israel is cancelled effective April 25, 1992. Where it is determined that its continued use is warranted, the validity of such passport may be renewed or extended for additional periods of two years upon cancellation of the Israel-only endorsement. In no event may the validity of such passport be extended beyond the normal period of validity prescribed for such passport by paragraphs (b) through (e) of this section. (Sec. 1, 44 Stat. 887; sec. 1, 41 Stat. 750; sec. 2, 44 Stat. 887; sec. 4, 63 Stat. 111, as amended (22 U.S.C. 211a, 214, 217a, 2658); E.O. 11295, 36 FR 10603; 3 CFR 1966-70 Comp. p. 507) [31 FR 13540, Oct. 20, 1966, as amended at 33 FR 12042, Aug. 24, 1968; 42 FR 17869, Apr. 4, 1977; 47 FR 56329, Dec. 16, 1982; 57 FR 3282, Jan. 29, 1992; 63 FR 7285, Feb. 13, 1998]