Passports, ETAs, and Visas: Essential Tips for International Travel

Happily, more and more of us are back to our traveling ways — international tourism has returned to or even surpassed pre-pandemic levels. And of course, traveling internationally still, as always, requires a little more planning to ensure a smooth arrival and processing at ports of entry.

The requirements for international travel can be sometimes tricky to navigate. Changing rules for some destinations means we can’t rely on our memory of how things were done on our last trip, and determining what documentation you will need for a getaway abroad requires some homework.

Naturally, the first step toward a visit to any foreign country comes with a passport. But for American travelers, a lot has changed with that little blue book. For starters, U.S. passports received a significant tech upgrade in 2021, when the next generation passport book debuted enhanced security features including a thick plastic data page with a laser-engraved black and white photo and an alpha-numeric passport number. Older versions will still work until they expire so there’s no need to rush out to renew yours if you still have plenty of time — and pages — left on your current passport.

Though it’s a good idea to have plenty of pages at the ready on your passport, the growing use of electronic entry systems and biometrics are also impacting how travelers are processed at international borders, sometimes eliminating stamps altogether. Australia’s SmartGate system and New Zealand’s eGate, for instance, have eliminated passport stamping, as have similar programs in Singapore, Israel, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as some airports in Mexico. Nostalgic travelers who wish to have stamps as mementos of their visit can still request stamps in some locations.

A visa is an additional document that must still be accompanied by a passport. The process of obtaining a visa can be far more involved and may even include sending your physical passport along with other required documents in the process like ticket confirmations, itineraries, or even a letter from your host, such as for Americans applying for a Chinese visa. A growing number of countries offer electronic visas (e-visas), a convenient and often faster alternative to the traditional visa. Check to see if the country you’re planning to visit requires a visa and be sure to give yourself plenty of time for processing.

Should you find that you need a visa stat, you have a few options. If there is true urgency, such as an unforeseen circumstance or emergency, you may request an expedited visa though the US Department of State, though approval isn’t guaranteed. However, there are multiple credible external organizations that can facilitate an expedited visa for an additional fee, such as CIBT and RushMyPassport.com. Check with membership organizations like AAA or AARP for exclusive rates on these services, as the additional fees do add up. Still, if your destination is calling and your travel timing flexibility is limited, this is an excellent option that takes out the guesswork and allows you to track the progress of your visa for a more worry-free process.

For more information on traveling internationally, U.S. travelers should visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for up-to-the-minute guidance and resources.

Notably, though they are member of the EU, Ireland and Cyprus are not currently slated to utilize EES.

The EES will use biometric data to register travelers as they enter and exit the external border of the Schengen Area — eliminating manual passport stamping. There won’t be anything additional you need to do prior to traveling once it’s activated, but you should be aware that your initial entry will require the collection of biometric data (fingerprints and photo) once the program is in use.

ETIAS Coming Late 2026
Following activation of EES, the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is slated to take effect in late 2026 in the countries listed above using EES with the addition of Cyprus. Unlike EES, the ETIAS is a pre-travel screening system, digitally linked to your passport, that will be an entry requirement for visa-exempt travelers (including Americans) to these countries. Also unlike EES, this will require a little more advance work. Applications can be completed by travelers online or via a mobile app and may be approved in as little time as a few minutes, though it may take longer if more information is requested. The good news is that once approved, the authorization is valid for three years (or until your current passport expires).