Families heading abroad should double-check their children’s passports before booking flights. Unlike adult passports, which remain valid for 10 years, passports issued to children under 16 are only valid for five years. Travel experts recommend renewing them about every three and a half years, since many destinations require at least six months of validity for entry.

The U.S. Department of State has specific requirements for child passport applications. Both parents or guardians must provide consent, and applications must be submitted in person. Renewals cannot be done through the standard DS-82 form but instead must be processed as new passports.

Failing to keep track of these timelines has left some families scrambling—or even canceling—long-awaited vacations when they discover a child’s passport has expired. To avoid these disruptions, planning ahead is key.