All international travelers, children and adults should have identification at all times when abroad. Passports are required for all international travel, and some countries require a travel visa. Click this link for passport information and applications. Check with the US State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs to find foreign entry requirements for your destination.

Before going abroad, you should always review the US State Department's Consular Information Sheets and Country Background Notes for your destination. You should also find a keep with you the location and emergency contact telephone numbers of US embassies and consulates where you are traveling. Travel registration is a free service to record information about your itinerary so that the US State Department can find you in the event of an emergency. You should register with the US embassy in your destination country. You should also make sure that you leave a copies of your itinerary and important documents (e.g. passport) with a close friend or relative that can be easily contacted if needed.

Always check both the Center for Disease Control and US State Department Medical Information web sites to familiarize yourself with any required immunizations, food or insect borne health risks, outbreaks, etc. You should also check with your health insurer to find out what your coverage is while you're abroad, and consider buying a short term health coverage and emergency assistance policy to cover your trip.

If you may be driving while abroad, make sure you check the local requirements. It is possible to rent a car in many countries only to find out after you've been pulled over that your U.S. driver's license is not valid. Most countries will accept an International Drivers Permit. Check to see if your car insurance covers you abroad, but be aware that even if it does cover you abroad it may not meet the local minimum requirements, in which case you should purchase supplemental insurance.