Passports & Visas

It can take two months or more to process a passport application, so don’t wait until the last minute.  If you already have a passport, be sure it’s valid for at least six months.   The next step is to determine if any visas are required to enter countries on your itinerary.   A U.S. State Department website maintains a list of countries that require visas for U.S. citizens and permanent residents (click here).  

Note that there are three ways that countries issue visas: 1) at the point of entry (visa on arrival), 2) online, and 3) through the embassy or consulate of the country you are traveling to.  If point of entry or online visas aren’t an option, you may need to mail your visa application, passport, and a fee to the country’s embassy in the U.S.  The application process can take several weeks so get an early start.  Note that if you’re pressed for time, there are companies such as CIBT or G3 Global Services that use couriers to expedite the process of obtaining visas. 

Lastly, check to see if a country you plan to visit requires proof of vaccination for diseases such as yellow fever.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintains country-specific health notifications and a list of required and recommended vaccines (click here).  Proof of vaccinations is recorded on a document called the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), more commonly called a “yellow card.”  You will receive your yellow card from the health provider who gives you your vaccine.  Keep it with your passport.