Travel Questions & Answers

While not all countries require a passport for entry, new laws require American travelers present a passport when returning to the US, even when visiting Canada and Mexico.

Any US citizen traveling outside the country needs a valid US passport. This formal identity document is issued by the national government to identify the holder as a national of that country. In essence, it requests permission for the bearer to enter and/or pass through countries. A passport also can serve as your primary document of identification. Visit our CapitolVisa database for specifics.

A passport is an official government document certifying your identity and citizenship. It allows you to regain entry to the country of your citizenship and is required by many countries to gain entry. On the other hand, a visa is an official government document that provides temporary authorization to be in the country you’re visiting. Many countries require a visa, rather than a passport, to gain entry. A visa usually is a simple stamp in the passport itself and is obtained from the country you wish to visit. Visit our CapitolVisa database for specifics.

To receive a US passport you must prove US citizenship. Thus you’ll need to provide either your birth certificate, delayed birth certificate, naturalization certificate or a “Letter of No Record,” if you were born in the US but don’t have a birth certificate. (This letter must be issued by state-level government.) If you were born outside the US to an American citizen, you’ll need to provide your foreign birth certificate, proof of citizenship of the US parent and an affidavit detailing where your parent has lived since your birth. You also must supply two identical, passport photos offering a full-frontal view of your face. These color photos must be 2x2 inches in size and taken within the past six months. Visit our CapitolVisa database for further specifics.

Due to changes in the law, newborns, infants and children of all ages are required to have their own passport. Children under the age of 14 will require the signature of one or both legal guardians to obtain a passport. Children ages 14-17 also may need such signatures and are required to fill out their own US passport application.

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