Passports, Visas and the New Entry Rules for Travelers

Travel paperwork has changed more in the last few years than in the previous decade. Several countries and regions now require an online authorization before you arrive, even for visitors who never used to need a visa, and identity rules for domestic flights in the US have tightened. Most problems at check-in come from a document that is valid but not valid enough, or an online form nobody knew about. Rules change often, so confirm everything on official government websites a few weeks before you travel.

For any international trip

Passport validity. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival or departure date, and some need one or two blank pages for stamps. For the Schengen area in Europe, a passport must generally be valid for at least three months after you plan to leave and have been issued within the previous ten years. Airlines can refuse boarding if you fall short. US passport renewals can take weeks, so check expiry dates well before booking.
Visas or electronic authorizations. Check the entry requirements for every country you will enter, including those where you only change planes, since some require a transit visa.
Return or onward ticket. Some countries ask for proof that you plan to leave.
Proof of accommodation and funds. Occasionally requested at the border, especially on longer trips.
Travel insurance details. Required for some visas, such as Schengen visas, and useful everywhere.

The new online authorizations

United Kingdom. Many visitors who do not need a visa, including US, Canadian and Australian citizens, now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation, or ETA, before traveling to the UK. Apply through the official UK government app or website.

United States. Travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries need an approved ESTA before boarding a flight or ship to the US. Apply only through the official US government site, since many lookalike sites charge extra fees.

European Union. The EU's Entry/Exit System, which registers non-EU travelers' fingerprints and facial images at the border in place of passport stamps, began operating in October 2025 and is being phased in. A separate pre-travel authorization called ETIAS, for visitors who do not need a visa, is expected to follow. Check the EU's official travel website for current dates before you go.

Canada and Australia. Canada requires an eTA for many visa-exempt visitors arriving by air, though US citizens are exempt. Australia requires an ETA or visa for visitors from most countries.

For flights within the US

Since May 2025, adults flying within the US need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state ID, marked with a star in the upper corner, or another accepted document such as a passport or passport card. Check your license before your next domestic trip.

Traveling with children

Children need their own passports. US passports for children under 16 are valid for only five years, so they expire sooner than parents expect. If a child is traveling with only one parent, or with grandparents or other adults, carry a signed consent letter from the absent parent or parents, with contact details. Some countries ask for one, and airlines sometimes do too. A copy of the birth certificate can help show the relationship.

Driving abroad

Many countries require or recommend an International Driving Permit alongside your license. In the US, the State Department recognizes only two organizations to issue them, the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance. Bring your home license as well, since the permit is only a translation of it.

Copies and backups

Photograph your passport's photo page, visas and authorizations, and store copies securely in your phone and email. Carry a paper copy separate from the passport itself. Note the address and phone number of your country's embassy or consulate at your destination. US citizens can also enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, which sends safety updates and helps the embassy reach you in an emergency.