Red Tape: Passports, Visas and Shots

For any trip that will take you outside the United States, you'll need a Passport Book. The new Passport Cards CAN NOT be used for travel to Europe. These are only for travel to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean. Standard Passport Books are valid for 10 years, so there's no reason not to apply well in advance of your planned trip.

Getting your First Passport

If you don’t have a passport yet, APPLY NOW! Passport applications, whether new or renewal, can take 6 to 8 weeks to process.

First-timers need to apply in person at their local passport office (usually at the main post office). You can download the form or fill it out on-line and then print it.

In addition to the completed form you'll also need:

• Proof of US citizenship, usually a birth certificate
• A valid government issued ID, such as a driver's license
• One passport photo — there are very specific size requirements, so get them taken by somebody who knows what they're doing. The passport office can do it, or you can get them ahead of time at places like Kinko's or AAA.

Complete details on applying for your first passport can be found on the US State Department's Passport Page.

Renewing a passport

If you already have a US Passport and need to renew it, you generally have to do this by mail. Note that many countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond the end of your trip. I know of people who have gone to the airport expecting to fly to Europe and have been denied boarding because their passport would expire in less than six months.

Forms are available at most post offices, or you can download the form, or fill it out on-line and then print it.

In addition to the completed form you'll also need:

• Your current passport
• Two passport photos — there are very specific size requirements, so get them taken by somebody who knows what they're doing. The passport office can do it, or you can get them ahead of time at places like Kinko's or AAA.

Complete details on renewing your passport can be found on the US State Department's Passport Page.

Visas

The word visa literally means 'viewed' or 'looked at.' Some countries want to be very careful about who they let in, and how long they're allowed to stay. They require you to submit your passport to the local embassy before your trip and get a visa, basically a special stamp in your passport that says "this person is ok."

For stays of up to 90 days, US citizens do not require a visa for any of these countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

Immunizations

Shots and medications for travel fall into two categories:

Required — i.e., the country you're visiting is worried about what they might catch from you

Recommended — i.e., you should worry about what you might catch while you're there

Currently most countries in Europe require that you be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This is a constantly evolving situation. Your best source of information is either on the Tourist Information web site for the countries you plan to visit, or on the US Embassy web site for those countries. General recommendations for travel anywhere include having your tetanus shot up-to-date, and getting vaccinated for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. For more information about health issues worldwide visit the Centers for Disease Control.

Note: The information on this page applies to US citizens. If you are not a US citizen, you need to contact your embassy to determine your own travel requirements regarding passports and visas. Information on this page is provided without guarantee of accuracy or application to specific cases. Always confirm the information necessary for your specific situation from official sources.

Starting in 2022 American travelers will need to apply for travel authorization when heading to Europe, no matter how short or long their stay may be. The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is modeled on ESTA, the US's Electronic System for Travel Authorization, a visa-waiver required for almost every European traveling to the US. The purpose of ETIAS, like ESTA, is to gather information on travelers who would otherwise travel visa-free between the European Union and the US, and ensure individuals that anyone who poses a security concerns is identified before they are permitted travel. This is a good thing for the rest of us.

Once the ETIAS is rolled out in 2022, the electronic application process should be simple and painless for 99% of travelers. If you aren't on a a government terrorist watch list, the application won't require much more than a small fee (currently plans call for a fee of around $8 to $10).