Many countries require a travel visa and international travel documents when entering the country. This is to ensure those traveling to the country are properly documented for state and personal safety. The following provides oversight of the various international travel documents, passports/cards, and travel visas required to travel abroad.
Departure Documents
The U.S. government requires documents as part of one’s departure, though they may differ depending on the destination country and transiting through it.
Departure document requirements include the following:
- U.S. passport
- U.S. permanent resident card
- Stateless travel document
- Re-entry permit
- NEXUS card
- U.S. merchant mariner card
- Military ID
- Emergency travel documents
The average individual simply needs a U.S. passport for their international travels. If you have questions about the others, please refer to each of the respective providers for details.
Additional Travel Requirements
There are a few other items needed along with your departure documents when traveling overseas. Besides the travel visa, you may also need:
- A page available in your passport/card for stamping
- Proof of return or onward flights + travel funds
Essentially, the destination country wants to see that you will be self-sufficient when arriving and have the intention of returning to your home country (or continuing onward).
Travel Visas
Travel visas are a privilege that allows you to travel to a country. Some countries do not require travel visas, meaning you are free to enter and exit them as you, please. However, other countries have strict guidelines to ensure you do not overstay.
More often than not, you will need either a tourist visa or a business travel visa. Every country has its own form of a travel visa, which can be issued dependent on your lines of need, such as work or tourism. The first step to finding out which kind of travel visa is applicable to your need is to determine the rules and regulations for visas in your particular destination.
You may be able to process a visa upon arrival to some countries. But it’s wise to handle them before going so that you do not run into trouble. Pre-processing will also make your departure easier since you now have those departure documents in order.
The following provides a detailed breakdown of the various travel visa requirements for countries around the world:
