Finding Out Which Travel Documents are Necessary

The type of documents that are necessary for your travels often differs dramatically depending on whether your travels are domestic or international. Domestic travels typically require the fewest documents. International travels, depending on your final destination, may require several documents. When planning overseas travel, an excellent resource is the U.S. Department of State's travel website, where you can easily find information on what documents you will need.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Computer with Internet Access\
Photo ID
Valid passport (if necessary)
Visa (if necessary)

Step 1

Bring a photo ID, such as a driver's license with you if traveling domestically. You will also need airline tickets to get through security. If you are traveling on an electronic ticket, you may opt to print your tickets out before heading to the airport, or print out your ticket at your airline's check-in counter when you arrive at the airport.

Step 2

Check the State Department's travel website (see resources below) to check out what travel documents are needed for international travel.

Step 3

Click on the region where your travels will take you. The major regions include Europe, Near East & Southeast Asia, East Asia & Pacific, Africa, and Western Hemisphere.

Step 4

Click on the country you will be traveling to when the pop-up list appears on your screen. You can repeat this method if your travels will take you to more than one country, or more than one region.

Step 5

Choose the heading titled "Entry/Exit Requirements." Take note of what travel documents are necessary for your travels. For example, travel to China requires a valid passport and visa that must be obtained prior to your travels. If your travels included Tibet, you would need a valid passport, visa, and travel permit to visit Tibet.

Step 6

Double-check the validity of your travel documents prior to your travels. Most countries prefer that your passport is valid for at least six months past your travel dates.

Tips & Warnings

If you need to renew your passport in a hurry, you can choose expedited service for an additional fee.

Resources

U.S. State Department International Travel

Article Written By Susan Berg

Based in Philadelphia, Susan Berg has more than 10 years of experience as a writer and editor. Her work has been published in both print and online media, including the "Dayton Daily News," BioZine and Wcities. Berg earned a Master of Arts in journalism from Indiana University.

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