International Travel Documents
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Planning to travel outside of the United States? Make sure your documents are in order!
A valid passport does not guarantee entry into a foreign country. Many countries require that your passport be valid for a period of time beyond your date of entry. For example, if you are traveling to or through Mexico or any of the 26 Schengen Area countries, your passport must be valid for at least six months after your date of entry. To confirm specific country entry requirements, including the number of blank pages your passport must have, see the State Department's information site.
If you need to renew your passport, you may qualify to do so by mail. To see if you meet the requirements, to learn about specific document requirements, to find out processing options, and to calculate current fees, consult the State Department's passport site. You will need to send in a completed application form, available from the website, along with your most recent passport, one passport photo, and the applicable fee (currently $130 for a ten-year passport).
Make sure that you send all your documents by a trackable service that can deliver to a post office box (USPS Priority Mail or USPS Express Mail). Your original passport will be returned, though it may come separately from your new passport.
Routine processing time is four to six weeks; expedited service of two to three weeks is available for an additional fee. If you are rushed, schedule an in-person appointment at the nearest passport agency. (While this service is intended for people whose departure is imminent, not all passport agencies require proof of travel dates.) In-person expedited service takes five business days. You can also arrange for private passport/visa expediter agencies, such as VisaHQ, TravelVisa Pro, and Passport Visas Express, to help you for a fee.
If you are traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda, and you are not traveling by air, you can use the $30 passport card instead of the traditional passport book. Apply for this card at the State Department's passport site.
Does your destination country require a visa? Confirm current requirements of your destination country by consulting the country’s embassy or consulate website. Requirements vary considerably by country, but all require a valid passport with a minimum number of blank pages.
Some countries require an in-person appointment for a visa. If you do not live near the country’s embassy or consulate or are otherwise unable to come in person, you can use a private passport/visa expediter agency, described earlier.
Are there any specific country requirements for entry? Consult the State Department's country information site to learn about other country-specific information, including travel safety alerts and immunization requirements. Necessary immunizations can be given by appointment at a local travel clinic; see the International Society of Travel Medicine's website to find your nearest clinic.
Learn about your travel insurance options. Even if you are covered by your existing health insurance provider for reimbursement for health expenses incurred while out of the country, you may wish to purchase additional insurance to cover medical evacuation. For a good starting point to learn about your options, read this article by Seth Kugel, formerly known as the Frugal Traveler of The New York Times.
Bon voyage! ¡Buen viaje! Gute reise! Buon viaggio! Boa viagem!