The TSA PreCheck® – Apply for TSA Precheck® program expedites traveler screening through participating TSA security checkpoints (for a complete list of participating airports, visit the TSA PreCheck® Airports and Airlines page). No need to remove shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, or light jackets.
Global Entry – Apply for Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States by accessing the Global Entry processing technology at selected airports.
Passport – Apply for a passport or check your existing passport expiration dates as soon as you start planning a trip. Passports issued to children under 16 are valid for only five years.
Some countries, including most of Europe, will require that your passport expiration date be at least six months away. If you need a new passport, apply early to allow for delays.
VISA – Citizens of the United States don’t need a U.S. visa for travel, but when planning travel abroad may need a visa issued by the country they wish to visit. Check with the embassy regarding your destination(s) visa requirements.
Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) – U.S. citizens, Canadians, and many non-European passport holders traveling to the UK for less than six months without a valid UK visa, need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) starting in January 2025. Exceptions would be travelers who already have a UK visa or are British or Irish citizens. The ETA is not a visa and doesn’t replace the need for a visa if you require one for more extended stays, work, or other reasons.
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) – The ESTA automated system of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Authorization via ESTA does not determine whether a traveler is admissible to the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers determine admissibility upon travelers’ arrival. The ESTA application collects biographic information and answers to VWP eligibility questions. ESTA applications may be submitted before travel, though it is recommended that travelers apply as soon as they begin preparing travel plans or before purchasing airline tickets.
Medications – Some prescription drugs, including narcotics, and some U.S. over-the-counter medications are illegal in other countries. Check with the U.S. Embassy about regulations and documentation for your destination(s) before you travel.
Consent for Travel with Minors – If you plan on traveling alone with children, foreign border officials may require custody documents or notarized written consent or permission from the other parent. Check with the embassy of your foreign destination before traveling to see what you may need.
International Driving Permit – Many countries do not recognize a U.S. driver’s license, but most accept an International Driving Permit (IDP). You may also need supplemental auto insurance. Read more about driving and road safety abroad before you go.
Emergency Assistance: Sometimes, in spite of careful planning, things still go wrong during a trip abroad. Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate overseas or our Washington, D. C. office (888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444).
Learn About:
Carry the U.S. Department of State Traveler’s Checklist with You.
Smart Travel Enrollment Program (STEP) – Sign up for the STEP, a free service that allows U.S. citizens and nationals to enroll for their trip abroad so the Department of State can accurately and quickly contact them in an emergency. Get real-time updates about the country’s health, weather, safety, and security. Plan your trip using information from the local U.S. embassy. Help the embassy or consulate contact you if there is an emergency, such as a natural disaster, civil unrest, or a family emergency.
Global Entry – Apply for Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States by accessing the Global Entry processing technology at selected airports.
Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) – U.S. citizens, Canadians, and many non-European passport holders traveling to the UK for less than six months without a valid UK visa, need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) starting in January 2025. Exceptions would be travelers who already have a UK visa or are British or Irish citizens. The ETA is not a visa and doesn’t replace the need for a visa if you require one for more extended stays, work, or other reasons.
Europe’s Schengen Area – If you plan to travel in Europe, you need to know about the Schengen Borders Agreement, which allows you to move freely within many countries without border checks. Tourists, exchange students, and people visiting for business from certain countries, like the United States, can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days. When traveling in the Schengen area (most EU countries, except for Cyprus and Ireland, plus non-EU countries: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein), your passport must be valid for at least six months at the time of your entry.
If you are transiting through Canada or the United Kingdom (UK) en route to the Schengen area, your passport must be valid for at least six months, even though Canada and the UK do not themselves have the six-month rule. If your passport will expire within six months, airlines may not let you board your onward flight to Europe.
Create a travel calendar in Google Calendar to document your travel itinerary. Add air flight, train, car rental, lodging, and attraction info (flight numbers/times, reservation confirmations, and attraction locations) to the calendar. The online calendar will be available online on demand and can be printed out. Print two copies of the completed itinerary. Carry one copy with your other travel documents and share a copy with a trusted friend so someone knows where you will be.
Identify all the things that need to be done during your travel absence and arrange to have these taken care of, including:
Digital copies of medication prescriptions can be stored on your phone or cloud in case of lost or damaged physical copies.
It is essential to have a physical copy of your prescription medication in case your phone battery dies or you lose your phone.
Some prescription drugs (including narcotics) and some U.S. over-the-counter medications are illegal in other countries. Check with the embassy of your destination(s) about regulations and documentation before you travel.
Digital copies of medication prescriptions can be stored on your phone or cloud in case of lost or damaged physical copies.
It is essential to have a physical copy of your prescription medication in case your phone battery dies or you lose your phone.
Some prescription drugs (including narcotics) and some U.S. over-the-counter medications are illegal in other countries. Check with the embassy of your destination(s) about regulations and documentation before you travel.
Digital copies of medication prescriptions can be stored on your phone or cloud in case of lost or damaged physical copies.
It is essential to have a physical copy of your prescription medication in case your phone battery dies or you lose your phone.
Some prescription drugs (including narcotics) and some U.S. over-the-counter medications are illegal in other countries. Check with the embassy of your destination(s) about regulations and documentation before you travel.
Make copies of all your travel documents, including your passport, travel credit cards, and intinerary. Leave one copy with a trusted friend or relative and carry the other separately from your original documents. Also, take a photograph of your travel documents with your phone to have an electronic copy.
Carry the U.S. Department of State Traveler’s Checklist with You.
The Smart Travel Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that allows U.S. citizens and nationals to enroll for their trip abroad so the Department of State can accurately and quickly contact them in case of emergency. Get real-time updates about the country’s health, weather, safety, and security. Plan using information from the local U.S. embassy. Help the embassy or consulate contact you if there is an emergency, such as a natural disaster, civil unrest, or a family emergency.
If traveling abroad, also carry with you:
Tip: If you need to carry a coat, stuff it into a zippered pillow case. You can take it onto the plane and use it as a pillow or sit on it.
Leave or send a copy of your travel itinterary, including contact phone number with a friend while you are away.
If traveling abroad, also carry with you:
Tip: If you need to carry a coat, stuff it into a zippered pillow case. You can take it onto the plane and use it as a pillow or sit on it.
Domestic Flights – Arrive 2 Hours Before Flight
International Flights – Arrive 3 Hours Before Flight
Disclaimer
OwlTravelogue and ForeSite Consulting LLC assume no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on or are linked to the above page. The inclusion of private groups on this page is in no way an endorsement of Owl Travelogue or ForeSite Consulting LLC. The order in which names appear has no significance and OwlTravelogue and ForeSite Consulting is not in a position to vouch for the information.