Your Essential Guide to Passports and Visas for International Travel

Passports are governmental documents that hold identification information. The documents themselves represent an individual’s personal identity and nationality. Passports are primarily used to travel to and from foreign countries based on the protections that are outlined by one’s passport. Now that you know some of the basic purposes of passports, here are some additional guidelines on using passports and visas for safe and speedy traveling abroad. What can you do with a passport? Passports are often used as alternatives to state IDs and driver’s licenses, as well as for travel purposes. For example, Colombia does not require US citizens to send off their passports for a short-term tourist visa. All that is needed is their passport number to be used for the Check Mig, which is an entry requirement for Americans. You can use a passport to book foreign or domestic trip tickets, trace the holder of the passport if they’re missing in another country, obtain a SIM card, and open a bank account while traveling in a different country.

The steps to obtaining a passport vary from one country to another, but here are the general rules to follow: 1. Compile all necessary documents requested for the passport application. You can find forms online at your government’s website. 2. Submit, download, and complete the forms. These forms confirm your citizenship, identity, authorization, and other essential aspects of legal identification and travel information. 3. Pay the fee to receive your passport. 4. Locate a passport facility close to you. 5. Schedule an appointment with your passport agency. 6. Check the status of your application until your passport is confirmed. If you want to avoid long waiting periods, give yourself enough time to apply before your trip, and try to do so outside of heavy traveling periods.

Visas are short-term governmental documents that allow entry into a foreign country for a set amount of time. A stamp on your passport will indicate these specifics by the host country. Be sure to speak with your destination’s embassy before your trip to ensure you have all the visa requirements needed to visit that country. Check with your local embassy to learn more about the specifics of applying for a visa. The requirements for passport validity vary by country, but most require that you have a minimum of six months left and two blank pages before traveling. The bottom line is to keep at least six months remaining on your passport for validity\'s sake and to check with your travel destination about any requirements or changes to obtaining a visa if necessary.