We recommend you take care of your passport the second you book your tour. Read this page to get information on how to get a passport or how to renew an existing passport. Visas are also necessary for travel to many countries and should be taken care of immediately. Below, find a list of countries that require travel visas and information on how to obtain one.
Obtain a Passport
You must have a valid passport to leave and reenter the country; this includes trips to Canada and Mexico.
Visit the U.S. State Department Passport Information page for complete information on how to apply for a new passport.
Just remember to begin your application process at least 4-8 weeks before your departure date to ensure that your passport arrives on time. Once you have begun the application process, the U.S. State Department allows you to track the status of your application on their website.
Renew Your Passport
Even if you have a passport, if it has passed its expiration date it is no longer considered valid and you will not be allowed to leave the country. Make sure you check your passport’s expiration date which can be found on the data page in your passport (the page that has your picture on it!). Passports are valid for 5 years for minors under the age of 16 and 10 years for those aged 16 and older.
If your passport has passed its expiration date, visit the U.S. State Department Passport Information page for complete information on how to renew your passport.
Additionally, some countries will not allow travelers to enter their country if they have less than 6 months of validity left on their passport. To check if any of the countries you are visiting have this requirement, visit the U.S. State Department International Travel Information page for country specific information.
About Visas
A visa is an official travel document that allows an individual to enter and travel through a foreign country. Some countries require that travelers obtain a visa before they are allowed entry into their country.
Obtain a Visa
You must have a valid passport before you can obtain a visa, so it is very important to apply for or renew your passport well in advance.
The countries listed below are visited by Explorica and require that you secure a visa for your trip. Visit the below countries' embassy home pages for more information on how to obtain your visa:
Australia
Brazil
Cambodia
China
India
Russia
Vietnam
Visit the U.S. State Department International Travel Information page for additional information on country-specific visa requirements.
If you need immediate assistance obtaining a passport or visa, Explorica travelers have successfully used Passport Visas Express in the past.