By Joe Flanagan
As we begin a new year, this is a great time to do some checks and balances. This can be extremely important for those traveling outside of their home country and find they can’t board a plane to their next destination because of a problem with their passport.
Check your passport. Has it expired? Is it nearing the expiration date?
Just because it hasn’t expired yet doesn’t mean you have nothing to worry about. If you do a lot of traveling to various countries, you should be well aware of the entry/exit requirements of each country. Some countries in Europe require you to have at least 3 months left on your passport before entering. Some countries in Asia require 6 months. Other countries like South Africa require a certain number of blank visa pages.
Each country has its own requirements and it’s your job to research this ahead of time so that you’re not caught off guard. The last thing you want to happen is arrive at the airport and be denied boarding.
Aside from the passport and visa requirements, you might also want to research the length of time you’re allowed to stay in one country. Most are 90 days. Some require tourist visa’s while others don’t. It just depends on the country.
So do yourself a favor. Do your research ahead of time. Check your passport. And make sure all your ducks are in a row.
Here’s a helpful website that has a searchable database of all countries, their entry/exit requirements, as well as other useful information: travel.state.gov/travel
The Polynesian Hostel Beach Club 