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Passports

Passport

Passports could be described as national identity cards for travelers, arranged in book format to allow room for visas and immigration stamps. As a tourist, you need a passport not only to enter other countries, but also to prove you're a citizen when you return home. You'll also find your passport handy in other ways--e.g., as proof of identity when cashing traveler's checks or performing other transactions outside your home country. (A shopkeeper in Italy or Finland has no way of knowing whether your driver's license is legitimate, but your passport will almost always be acceptable if you look anything at all like your photo.)

It's important to keep your passport with you when traveling abroad, with a few exceptions:

  • A hotel clerk may ask to keep your passport for several hours or even overnight in countries where foreign visitors must be reported to the police. (This is a common requirement, even in Western Europe.)

  • Occasionally, a bank clerk may need to borrow your passport for a few minutes to complete the paperwork for an exchange transaction. The teller will return your passport when handing over your cash.

  • If you need a visa for the next leg of your trip and didn't obtain it at home, you may be asked to leave your passport with the consulate that's issuing the visa.

Are you the type of person who misplaces things, or are you worried about pickpockets? Buy a "neck safe" or passport/money holder that can be worn inside your clothing. Our partner, Magellan's, carries a good selection of these and other personal-security products for travelers.

IMPORTANT:

  • Don't lose your passport under any circumstances! Without it, you'll be limited in what you can do overseas and you'll waste much of your vacation trying to get it replaced.

  • To minimize bureaucratic difficulties if your passport is lost or stolen, carry a photocopy of your passport's photo and identity pages in a safe place. This way, you'll be able to prove who you are when you apply for a replacement at your country's embassy or consulate.

Passport Web sites

On the next page, you'll find links to the passport Web sites for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Several of these sites will let you download and print applications that can be filed in person or by mail.

If you live in the U.S. and need travel documents in a hurry, the expediters at Passport Visa Express can cut through red tape and get you a passport (and travel visas, if applicable) in 24 to 72 hours.

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Photo: IMSI. May not be reproduced or redistributed.

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