Living in the EU you don’t need a passport if you are traveling within the union.  U.S. Citizens and others many times do not have to show theirs to travel between countries in the EU either, but you need one to get inside one of those countries in the first place.

Especially for those who live in the US, they will need this travel document now more than ever.  You’ve always needed one to fly to Europe or Asia or beyond…. now you need one to fly to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Now to cross borders even in Canada or Mexico you have to show your credentials. That means a passport.

To cross  the borders into Canada and Mexico by land or by sea (that is driving or cruising) you currently need a passport, a passport card or a WHTI-compliant document.  Or you need a government-issued Photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate. WHTI stands for Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.  There is a whole list of rules about what a WHTI-compliant document is.  If you think you qualify for one of these, you’d better check the rules at the U.S. Department of State and be sure.

Starting in July of 2008, the U.S. government began issuing U.S. Passport Cards.  These wallet-size cards are convenient and less expensive, but they can NOT be used for international AIR travel.  Watch for a future article for full explanation of what this card is.

Children traveling with you need passports too.  Even infants.

And no… they can not be expired.  Each traveler’s documents must be current and valid.  Depending on the rules of the country you’re traveling to, they might have to be valid for 3 to 6 months after you return from your trip. That means they can’t expire for several months after your return.

It is up to you to make sure you have the proper documentation.  You should not take the word of the airline you’re traveling with or the TSA or a travel agent.  They can all give you advice, but if any of them is misinformed, it’s your trip that will be delayed or ruined.

If you are planning on traveling anywhere outside US borders, the best advice we can offer is to get your very own passport. It will save you a ton of headaches and problems, and it literally unlocks the world. So go get that mugshot taken, fill out those forms, sign that little check, and go see what the world has in store for you!

The United States is a large, diverse country.  People can and do live their entire lives without leaving its borders.  There’s plenty to see and do here.  There is, in fact, a large percentage of Americans that don’t travel internationally.  I’m not sure there is an official count on this.  I’ve read all kinds of statistics but a conservative estimate seems to be that 75% of Americans don’t own a passport.

So for those Americans and any others who are unclear on this, let’s get really basic… what exactly is this document?  To quote the United States Department of State, “It is a document issued by a country to a citizen of that country, allowing that person to travel abroad and re-enter the home country.”  There’s a government definition for you!

Every country in the world issues their own.  Citizens of all countries need passports to travel out of their country and into another.  There are exceptions, but that needs to be addressed in another article.

The format is generally a small booklet about 3 inches by 5 inches.  At the front there are the official identification pages that contain your name and your officially affixed photo.  (You supply a 2 inch by 2 inch photo when you apply).  This page also contains the information on your birth date, where you were born, when and where the document was issued, when it expires, and that all important passport number.  You must sign it when you receive it for it to be valid.  In the United States, they are valid for ten years for adults, and they’re valid for five years for children 15 years of age and younger.

The pages that follow are empty waiting to be used for exit and entry stamps.  Those empty pages are also used for formal visas if they are required.  (Again, that will take another article.)

When you’re leaving the United States, there is no government document control station.  Your passport (and visas) will be checked for validity by the airline you are traveling with.  When entering a new country, the Immigration Officer will check your documents.  They may stamp it with the date of your entry.  In most countries you are allowed to visit for a limited amount of time (generally thirty days) without officially applying for an extended visit, so this stamp marks the start of your visit.

The Immigration Officer will check that date at your departure and stamp you out.  For most travelers, these stamps are great memories of their travels.

O.K. maybe you knew most of this.  It’s just good to understand everything when you’re planning your first big international trip.  So now that you know what a passport is, you can move on to getting one and planning your itinerary!