Essential Travel Documents: A US Traveler’s Guide

By Ed Hancox on 07 Nov 2023

Along with a valid passport and a valid visa, travelers often have to provide other essential documents in order to enter a foreign country. These could range from required proof of vaccinations to an Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry if you’re getting married outside the United States.

Use this checklist to keep track of the valid travel documents you’ll need for traveling abroad, as well as how to get them.

What documents do I need for international travel?

Here’s a comprehensive list of the different documents foreign citizens may need while traveling abroad:

Valid Passport Book

The most important travel document is a valid passport. Without it, you can’t even fly internationally.

Make sure your passport is valid and has at least six months of validity on it well before your trip. If it has less than six months’ validity, some countries won’t allow you to enter. Give yourself six to nine months to renew or get a first-time passport—current processing times range from 10 to 13 weeks for routine processing and seven to nine weeks for expedited.

Valid Passport Card

If you’re looking to enter Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean by land or sea, you can travel with a passport card instead of the full passport book. The passport card cannot be used for air travel to any international destination.

Valid Visa

As a form of border protection, many countries’ immigration authorities require visitors to have a valid visa in order to enter. If you’re going on vacation, a tourist visa is the most common. For work travel, you’ll likely need to get a business visa.

To expedite processing and attract tourists, many countries have simple and easy online applications for their most common visas, allowing visitors to get a visa in just a few days. But each country is different, and you should double-check the visa requirements of your destination at least several months before your trip.

You can find out what kind of visa you need and the process for getting one using the following resources:

ETIAS Electronic Travel Authorization

Starting in 2025, nationals of visa-exempt countries hoping to travel to 30 European countries will need to get a European Travel Information and Authorization System electronic travel authorization in advance. US citizens are visa-exempt, so instead of a visa, US passport holders will need to get this authorization, which permits short-term stays of 90 days in a 180-day period. This authorization lasts for three years and is valid until its expiration date or your passport expires, whichever occurs first.

Government-issued Identification

Along with your passport, it’s also a good idea to bring another form of proper identification. You’ll need to show this to officials like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) if you’re traveling by air. Acceptable identification documents include:

  • Valid driver’s license
  • Passport card
  • DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
  • US Department of Defense ID
  • ID card for permanent residents
  • Border crossing card
  • Photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
  • Foreign government-issued passport

Vaccination Certificate

Many countries require that you get specific vaccinations in order to visit. This protects both you and the country’s citizens.

If you need to get a specific vaccination, you’ll need to show proof of it when you enter the country. Ask the medical provider giving you the vaccine for a vaccination card or certificate, which lists the type of vaccination and when you got it. Digital vaccine cards or “vaccine passports” are also becoming more widespread, but it’s still a good idea to have a physical copy on hand.

Here’s how you can find out what vaccines you may need before your trip:

Along with required vaccines, the CDC recommends being up-to-date on all your routine vaccines ahead of travel. Get any new or updated shots at least a month before traveling.

Personal Documents

If you’re traveling to another country to get married or undergo medical procedures, you may need to bring more official documents with you when you travel. Laws vary by country, so depending on the purpose of your trip, confirm what you may need to bring.

Entriva is here to help you find out what documents you’ll need for certain trips, and you can also reach out to the nearest embassy or consulate of your destination country for more information. These documents could include:

  • Medical records
  • Birth certificate
  • Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry
  • Divorce decree

If you don’t have these documents on hand, you can get them from their respective sources, like your medical provider, the vital records department in your state and county, and your local courthouse.

Travel insurance certificate

Although it’s usually not a requirement, getting comprehensive travel insurance is highly recommended for international travel. With customizable plans and budget-friendly options, it can help protect you from delays, cancellations, or medical expenses if you fall ill overseas.

Once you purchase a policy, you’ll get a certificate with more information about your policy’s coverage specifics. It’s a good idea to have this immediately available and on hand in case something happens.

Travel documents FAQs

Find more answers to your questions about important travel documents below.

How do I know the required entry documents of my destination?

There are several ways you can find what documents you’ll need to enter a foreign country:

You can use these resources to find exactly what documents you’ll need to provide.

Should I make copies of my important travel documents?

It’s a good idea to make photocopies of your travel documents (especially your passport and visa) in case your originals get lost or stolen. Having photocopies will help you with identification, and help your embassy or consulate assist you faster. Keep these photocopies in a safe and secure place, like the safe in your hotel room.

Are there any countries I can visit without a visa?

Some countries don’t require visitor visas or allow visas upon arrival. You can find out whether or not you need a visa for your destination by checking Entriva’s country information pages, the US State Department Country Information page for your destination, and the immigration or tourism website for your destination.

Journey Better with Entriva  

From assisting with visa applications to giving you peace of mind with our application-tracking portal, Entriva is here to take the stress and hassle out of planning a trip. Contact us today for answers to your questions or to start your visa application process. You can also explore our services or visit our destination hubs to learn more about your country of travel.