Here’s a collection of critical information for anyone travelling to international destinations.
Please remember that all of the information is subject to change, which is why I compiled the official websites and other information which may be helpful to you during your journeys. Keep in mind that it’s crucial to verify the latest requirements from official sources closer to your travel dates, so please take the time to explore what may be applicable to your itinerary.
Antigua and Barbuda
Passport Validity: 180 days following departure date.
Tourist Visa: Not required with onward/return ticket, accommodation confirmation, and proof of sufficient funds.
U.S. Citizens: Valid U.S. passport required.
Official Sources:
Aruba
Passport Validity: One page required for entry stamp.
Tourist Visa: Not required.
Vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from select countries.
Currency Restrictions: Amounts over $11,000 USD must be declared.
Official Sources:
Turks and Caicos
Passport Validity: 90 days beyond departure date.
Tourist Visa: Not required for stays up to 90 days.
U.S. Citizens: Valid U.S. passport required.
Official Sources:
Dominican Republic
Passport Validity: 90 days beyond departure date.
Tourist Visa: Not required for stays up to 90 days.
U.S. Citizens: Valid U.S. passport required.
Official Sources:
St Lucia
Passport Validity: 6 months beyond departure date.
Tourist Visa: Not required for stays up to 6 weeks.
U.S. Citizens: Valid U.S. passport required.
Official Sources:
US Virgin Islands
Passport Validity: 6 months beyond departure date (recommended).
Tourist Visa: Not required for U.S. citizens.
U.S. Citizens: Proof of citizenship (like a driver’s license or birth certificate) is generally sufficient, but a passport is recommended.
Official Sources:
Bahamas
Passport Validity: 6 months beyond departure date.
Tourist Visa: Not required for stays up to 8 months.
U.S. Citizens: Valid U.S. passport required.
Official Sources:
Puerto Rico
Passport Validity: 6 months beyond departure date (not typically enforced for US citizens).
Tourist Visa: Not required for U.S. citizens.
U.S. Citizens: No passport required for U.S. citizens.
Official Sources:
Jamaica
Passport Validity: 6 months beyond departure date.
Tourist Visa: Not required for stays up to 90 days.
U.S. Citizens: Valid U.S. passport required.
Departure Tax: Please be aware that a departure tax may apply, which could be included in your airfare or payable at the airport.
Official Sources:
Mexico
Passport Validity: 6 months beyond departure date.
Tourist Visa: Not required for stays up to 180 days.
U.S. Citizens: Valid U.S. passport required.
Departure Tax: Visitax may apply.
Official Sources:
Costa Rica
Passport Validity: 6 months beyond departure date.
Tourist Visa: Not required for stays up to 90 days.
U.S. Citizens: Valid U.S. passport required.
Departure Tax: Approximately $29-$31 USD per person when departing via air. Often included in the airline ticket price, but it’s recommended to verify with the airline. Can also be paid at the airport.
Official Sources:
Scotland
Passport Validity: 6 months beyond departure date (recommended).
Tourist Visa: Not required for stays up to 6 months.
Electronic Travel Authorisation: May be required in the future as the UK rolls out its ETA scheme.
Official Sources:
South Ireland (Republic of Ireland)
Passport Validity: Valid for the duration of your stay.
Tourist Visa: Not required for up to 90 days for many nationalities.
Official Sources:
England
Passport Validity: 6 months beyond departure date (recommended).
Tourist Visa: Not required for stays up to 6 months for many nationalities.
Electronic Travel Authorisation: May be required in the future as the UK rolls out its ETA scheme.
Official Sources:
France
Passport Validity: Valid for at least three months beyond your intended date of departure from the Schengen Area (six months recommended).
Tourist Visa: Not required for U.S. citizens for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism or business.
Vaccinations: No specific requirements mentioned. Check for current health advisories.
Currency Restrictions: No specific restrictions mentioned.
Travel Advisories: France Travel Advisory – Travel.State.Gov
Tourism Taxes: “Taxe de Séjour” applies, varies by accommodation type and city, ranging from €0.65 to €15.60+ per person per night.
Spain
Passport Validity: Valid for at least three months beyond your intended date of departure from the Schengen Area, and issued within the previous 10 years.
Tourist Visa: Not required for U.S. citizens for short stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period) for tourism and business.
Vaccinations: No specific requirements mentioned. Check for current health advisories.
Currency Restrictions: No specific restrictions mentioned.
Travel Advisories: Spain Travel Advisory – Travel.State.Gov
Tourism Taxes: Applies in some regions (e.g., Catalonia, Barcelona), ranging from €1 to €7+ per person per night, with exemptions for children under 16.
Portugal
Passport Validity: Valid for a minimum of three months beyond the length of your stay (six months recommended).
Tourist Visa: Not required for U.S. citizens for stays up to 90 days for tourism or business.
Vaccinations: No specific requirements mentioned. Check for current health advisories.
Currency Restrictions: No specific restrictions mentioned.
Travel Advisories: Portugal Travel Advisory – Travel.State.Gov
Tourism Taxes: Applies in some areas like Lisbon (€4 per night from Sept 2025) and Algarve (€2/€1 per night depending on season).
Italy
Passport Validity: Valid for at least three months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area (six months recommended). Must have 2 blank pages for entry stamp.
Tourist Visa: Not required for U.S. citizens for stays less than 90 days for tourist or business purposes.
Vaccinations: No vaccination requirements. Check for current health advisories.
Currency Restrictions: 10,000 Euros currency limit or equivalent for entry and exit.
Travel Advisories: Italy International Travel Information – Travel.State.Gov
Tourism Taxes: “City Tax” applies, varies by city and accommodation type, ranging from €1 to €7+ per person per night.
Greece
Passport Validity: Six months of remaining validity recommended (at least three months required beyond intended stay). One blank page per stamp.
Tourist Visa: Not required for U.S. citizens for stays less than 90 days for tourism or business. Visa required for official and diplomatic passport holders.
Vaccinations: None. Check for current health advisories.
Currency Restrictions: 10,000 euros or the equivalent for entry and exit.
Travel Advisories: Greece International Travel Information – Travel.State.Gov
Tourism Taxes: New “Climate Crisis Resilience Fee” (replacing previous tourist tax) for 2025, ranging from €2 to €15 per night per person depending on accommodation and season.
Israel
Passport Validity: Six months beyond departure date.
Tourist Visa: Not required for stays up to 90 days for many nationalities. Starting January 1, 2025, U.S. citizens must have an approved Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL).
Vaccinations: No specific requirements mentioned. Check for current health advisories.
Currency Restrictions: No specific restrictions mentioned.
Travel Advisories: Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza International Travel Information – Travel.State.Gov
Tourism Taxes: VAT (Value Added Tax) applies to many goods, tourists may be eligible for a refund before departure. Exit tax of around $60 USD may apply.
Egypt
Passport Validity: Six months beyond departure date. At least 1 blank passport page needed.
Tourist Visa: Required for U.S. Citizens. Can obtain a 30-day tourist visa on arrival for a fee (paid in U.S. dollars cash) or apply online for an e-visa.
Vaccinations: No vaccination requirements, unless arriving from a yellow-fever infected area. Check for current health advisories.
Currency Restrictions: Less than $10,000 for entry and exit.
Travel Advisories: Egypt International Travel Information – Travel.State.Gov
Tourism Taxes: Tourist tax on accommodation, and a “pleasure tax” on some tourist activities may apply.
China
Passport Validity: Six months. Two blank passport pages.
Tourist Visa: Required for U.S. citizens. May be eligible for a ten-year multiple entry visa.
Vaccinations: Recommend consulting with a travel clinic.
Currency Restrictions: Max RMB 20,000 for entry and exit.
Travel Advisories: China International Travel Information – Travel.State.Gov
Tourism Taxes: VAT refund policy for overseas travelers on purchases upon departure. Minimum spending requirements apply.
Indonesia
Passport Validity: Six months beyond the date of arrival. At least two blank visa pages.
Tourist Visa: Required for U.S. citizens for stays longer than 30 days. U.S. citizens traveling for tourism may qualify for a free, 30-day non-extendable Free Visit Entry Stamp or can obtain a Visa on Arrival (VOA) for a fee, which can usually be extended by 30 days.
Vaccinations: Recommend consulting with a travel clinic. Yellow fever vaccination may be required if arriving from affected areas.
Currency Restrictions: No specific restrictions mentioned.
Travel Advisories: Indonesia International Travel Information – Travel.State.Gov
Tourism Taxes: Bali has a tourist tax of IDR 150,000 per person (around $10 USD), payable online or at the airport.
