How long is a cheque valid?
A cheque does not last forever. After a set period it becomes "stale" or out of date, and the bank can refuse to pay it. The period depends on the country, and it always counts from the date written on the cheque, not the day you received it.
| Country | Validity | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| India | 3 months | Reserve Bank of India: cheques are valid for 3 months from the date on them. |
| United States | 6 months | Banks are not required to pay a cheque more than 6 months old (they may choose to). |
| United Kingdom | 6 months | Most banks treat a cheque as out of date after 6 months. |
| Canada | 6 months | A cheque dated more than 6 months ago is usually treated as stale-dated. |
| Australia | 15 months | A cheque is generally considered stale after 15 months. |
Banks can apply their own policies on top of these rules, and some cheques say "void after 90 days" or similar on their face. If the cheque shows its own limit, that limit applies.
How the last date is worked out
Count the months forward from the cheque date, then step back one day. In India, a cheque dated 10 January 2026 is valid up to 9 April 2026. When the month you land in is shorter, the count stops at its last day: a cheque dated 30 November 2026 is valid up to 27 February 2027.
Post-dated cheques
A post-dated cheque carries a future date and cannot be deposited before that date. Its validity also starts from that future date, so you have the full period from the day it becomes payable.
Don't cut it fine
Deposit well before the last date. Weekends, bank holidays and clearing times can all eat into the final days, and if a cheque bounces you want time to ask the payer for a new one. The simplest habit is to deposit within a week of receiving a cheque.
Invited can do the remembering for you: take a photo of the cheque and it reads the date and amount, then reminds you to deposit it. See cheque deposit reminders or read how long is a cheque valid, with examples.