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So, you want to go see the world … And there is a lot of world to see. But, there are lots of little things to consider to ensure that your next international trip is successful. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of what you’ll need to get in and out of the country. As well as how you’ll power your devices, protect yourself and protect your data. Before you take off though, want to speed through the TSA Security Line? Take a look at our post about TSA Precheck and its benefits.
Getting A Passport For International Travel
First things first; If you want to travel internationally, you’ll need a passport from your country of citizenship. Information on how to obtain a passport in the USA is on the State Department website. You’ll need to obtain a passport photo which has to meet specific requirements. But you may want to save yourself the hassle of getting those requirements right. Many places that develop photos (CVS, Walgreens, etc) also take passport photos for a fee.
What will you need to apply for your passport?
You’ll also need to locate your birth certificate, but they will accept other documents if you don’t have a birth certificate. However, it is the easiest if you do have access to it. Lastly, you’ll need to have Photo Identification to bring to your appointment. The most common is a driver’s license. But they will accept a few other documents if you don’t have an in-state driver’s license.
Note that for secondary identifications, they require that you bring two IDs. The original document is required. They will keep the original citizenship document and mail it back to you with your new passport. Make sure that you aren’t going to need it for a few months.
Submitting Your Documentation For A Passport
Once you have the photos and all documents gathered, you’ll need to complete the Passport Form. You’ll need DS-11 if it’s your first passport or Form DS-82 for a renewal passport. You have the option to either fill out the forms online and print them or print a PDF version and fill them out after printing. Once you’ve filled out, printed, and signed the paperwork, you’ll need to take it to an Acceptance Facility
Tip: Some of the passport processing stations, like the USPS, also take passport photos, saving you a step. But, you’ll want to use this search feature to determine if they do offer that service.
How Much Does A Passport Cost?
Many of these sites require an appointment, so plan accordingly. They’ll review your paperwork, review your IDs, and then file your paperwork for you. Expect to pay $130 for a Passport, or $160 for both a Passport and a Passport Card. The passport card can only be used for land travel between the USA and Mexico and Canada. Finally, expect to pay $35 to the Acceptance Facility as well.
How Long Does It Take To Get A Passport?
An important note; Getting a passport takes some time. For a Routine Passport Application, expect it to take 7 – 10 weeks after you drop it off at the Acceptance Facility. You can request an Expedited Passport for an extra $60 with a processing time of 4 – 6 weeks. So if you’re planning a trip, give yourself plenty of time to get it processed. Remember that you can’t travel internationally until you have received your passport.
If you are looking to travel due to a life-or-death emergency or urgent need, there are some options for that. But they can get expensive and require you to present to a Passport Agency. There are only 26 Passport Agencies in the country, so you may not live near one. If you’re traveling somewhere that requires a visa, you’ll need to have your passport in hand before you can apply for your Visa.
Getting An International Visa For International Travel
If you’re traveling internationally to visit as a tourist, you may need a tourist visa. For a lot of countries, you’ll get a tourist visa or visa-on-arrival when they stamp your passport at immigration. Generally, a Tourist Visa is short-term (commonly 90 days or less). There are consequences for overstaying your visa, so know when it expires. There are also consequences for doing things that aren’t permitted with your visa type. Examples are getting a job, enrolling in school, or breaking the law.
Applying For A Visa
Some countries require you to apply for and obtain a visa in advance of arrival (China for example.) The easiest way to determine the Visa requirements is to visit the US State Department Website. Search for the country you’re visiting and check the “Entry, Exit, and Visa Requirements” section. Besides Visa Requirements, they’ll tell you about safety and security concerns, embassy information, security and health alerts, and more.
I would highly encourage you to check every country that you’re planning on flying to before you purchase plane tickets. Check for any entry requirements and then again just a few days before flying to check for any safety, security, or health-related alerts.
TIP: Make a note of the US Embassy’s contact information. You’ll want that if you have any problems within the country and need assistance.
Getting A Visa For International Travel
If you’re heading on an international trip that requires a Tourist Visa, you’ll want to learn the process. This also applies if you’re applying for another Visa type, such as a work or student visa. Every county has a different process, different paperwork, and different fees. The best way to find the requirements is to go to the embassy website for the county you are visiting.
Many countries require you to visit an Embassy or Consulate to obtain a visa. Most are generally either in Washington DC or a limited number of large cities. You’ll want to plan ahead as you may need to make an appointment. You may also have to travel a significant distance for your appointment to obtain a Visa. The process can be expensive, and time-consuming, and you aren’t guaranteed a Visa after going through the entire process.
Quick Note: If you aren’t able to obtain a Visa, or your Visa Application is denied, don’t try to fly to the country. You’ll either be denied before you board or when you arrive and then have to pay to find a way home.
Power Adapters For International Travel
Across the world, there are 12 different types of electrical plugs. Several counties share plug adapters that are similar enough that they are compatible with each other. You’ll need to look up the country that you are traveling to and determine two things. What plug type do they use and what voltage do they use. This chart on Wikipedia lists most countries and their plug type and voltage. You’ll want to make sure that you have the right adapter before your international travel.
Do I Need A Universal Power Adapter?
If you plan on a lot of international travel to counties that require different types of plugs. I suggest getting a universal adapter like the one pictured below. It’s designed to work in nearly every country in just one box. Of course, these will be more expensive than country-specific ones. But you’ll get lots of use out of them if you plan on traveling often to a variety of countries.
Do I Need A Country-Specific Power Adapter?
Alternatively, if you plan on traveling to a limited number of countries, or to countries that use the same type of plug, you can buy less bulky adapters in just the types that you’ll need for your trip. Generally, the type-specific ones also have more outlets. Just make sure that you get the right plug type for the country that you are visiting.
How Do Voltages Work In Other Countries?
Okay, now that you’ve got an adapter that will allow you to plug your devices into the wall during your international travel, let’s talk about voltages. Voltages generally range between 110-240 volts. In the United States, 120 is the common household voltage. 220 – 240 is the standard in the majority of other countries. What that means is that many of the devices that you have in the USA may not be rated for the voltage of other countries. Your device may burn out or potentially catch fire if plugged into the wrong outlet.
There are two solutions to ensure the safety of your devices (and yourself). Ensure the device is rated for the voltage range of the country you are visiting or buy a voltage converter.
Will My Devices Work In A Foreign Country?
Most devices will have a rating listed on them. Either on the device itself or the plug, but at times you may have to look at the device box or in the user manual. You may also need to look for online documentation to find the voltage rating. Many computers and chargers from international companies cover the full voltage range. But most hair dryers, curling irons, and similar ones are only one voltage.
Special Note: A USB Outlet power outlet on an adapter (such as those pictured above) uses a universally standard specification. So most devices that use a USB Charger will be able to be plugged directly into the adapter without needing a converter first. But if you plug the wall adapter that comes with the USB Charger into the adapter, make sure that it’s rated for the correct voltage range.
Do I Need A Voltage Converter?
Your second option is a voltage converter which steps down the voltage from 220 – 240 to 110 – 120. They are easy to get, but they are heavier than adapters and do have a habit of getting pretty warm if running for long periods of time. They generally have a limit on items they will run. Hair dryers for example often struggle with an adapter because of their high power requirements. Although most converters also have the ability to plug into the outlet in a variety of countries.
Cell Phone Data For International Travel
If you plan on using your phone while you’re traveling internationally, you have three options:
- Use your current plan in the country you are visiting
- Use a travel SIM or eSIM card for your current phone
- Use an international WiFi Router
There are pros and cons to each of these. Those may change depending on the country you are traveling to and how long you’ll be away. You’ll need either a carrier or WiFi to use data. You’ll need a carrier to send/receive text messages or phone calls. iMessage is the exception because it can transmit over data. There are lots of other messaging options that use WiFi and don’t rely on carrier services, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or Google Voice (Messages only, not phone calls).
Using Your Current Cellular Plan While Traveling
Starting with using your current cellular provider/plan. Check this carefully to determine what kind of coverage you have for international travel and what it costs. Some domestic cell phone providers have international plans or day passes. For example, with AT&T or Verizon, a day pass is $10 a day which allows you to use your plan as if you would at home.
Note that it doesn’t work in every country. Also, worth noting that you may need to call to get it turned on, it’s not on automatically. If you’re going to go with this option, check what counties it covers. Also, check the price per day, and what you need to do to activate it.
If you don’t plan on using your phone every day, this may be one of the cheapest options. Also, if you plan on using your current phone number to make or receive calls, this may be your only option. If your carrier doesn’t have international plans, then you’ll either pay roaming fees or it won’t work at all. Note that roaming fees can be VERY expensive. Keep in mind that you’ll get charged the daily fee for each day you use carrier services. Which can be anything from a phone call or text message to using Google Maps while not connected to WiFi.
Using A Travel eSIM or SIM Card
If you are exclusively looking to use data (for messaging services, maps, social media, etc) then an international eSIM card may work for you. eSIM stands for Embedded Subscriber Identify Module. In short; it tells your phone which networks to connect to, and who you are. eSIM and SIM do the same function.
A SIM Card is a physical card whereas an eSIM is a digital one. Most newer phones can accept both a physical SIM card and an eSIM card at the same time. This will allow you to keep your home network on your phone and just switch while you’re traveling.
Most international eSIM cards don’t include a phone number, meaning that they are data only. If you’re going to be there for months or years and want a local number, you may need to go to a local provider to give you a local network and carrier. Otherwise, an eSIM gives you data, on a local network and is super easy to install on your phone.
There are a lot of providers that offer the service, so you’ll want to look around for the one that offers the best prices for your international trip. Make sure you’re choosing one with good reviews so you can be confident that it’ll work when you arrive. We’ve used Airalo personally for our last few trips and highly recommend it. They have options for specific countries, specific regions, or the whole globe. Cheap prices and easy to purchase and install.
Using An International WiFi Router
The final choice is to have an International WiFi Router. This will allow you to connect not only your phone but your laptop or iPad/Tablet as well to WiFi in any number of countries. The obvious pro is that you can connect more devices. But it does require you to carry around (and keep charged) one more device.
The other thing to consider is that if you start connecting your computer, tablet/iPad, and similar devices, it’ll use up significantly more data so you’ll want to plan for that. But, if you’re traveling with several devices and want them to work, this is probably one of the best options. Again, compare the options because different providers have different rates for different countries. Some options include TravelersWifi, GlobalMe, and SolisWifi.
Ready and excited to go travel but don’t know where to go next? Read our post about creating the perfect travel itinerary.
VPN (Virtual Private Network) For International Travel
Okay, so we got you into the country and devices powered up and connected, which are largely the required things for a good vacation. There is one more thing that I want to discuss that I think is important while traveling internationally – data security. You’ll want to protect your data from being blocked or monitored.
More than that, you’ll want to protect your data from interception while using your computer or cell phone on public WiFi such as in coffee shops or hotel lobbies. Many of us use our devices daily to send and receive sensitive information so that secure connection is vital. Additionally, some countries block, restrict, or even monitor internet traffic, and a VPN gets around that.
How Does A Virtual Private Network (VPN) Work?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) allows you to create a tunnel between your device and a server based in a country other than the one you are physically in. This tunnel gives you access to the things you would have if based in that country. As well as having a secure link that can’t be seen by those attempting to intercept your data and information. I personally use a VPN that auto-connects any time I am on an unsecured network, even here in the US.
There are lots of options for VPNs out there, and without a lot of personal experience, I’m not going to recommend one. We’ve used one during our international trips and found it easy and useful. It may also be included in your anti-virus software, so check there first before purchasing one. They are generally not that expensive for the data protection they provide. A Google Search for VPNs will give you some options.
Wrapping It Up: International Travel
I know we’ve covered a lot in this post, but hopefully, you’ll feel more prepared to take on your next international trip while staying connected to your world at home. Now you’re ready to travel the world, but have you considered this list of things you’ll need to survive a long flight? Before you hit the skies though, it’s also important to consider safety tips. Of course, while you’re out there traveling, send pictures.
