If you plan to travel outside of your country it is wise to prepare the important international travel documents that approves you entry to the destination of your choice. If you cannot provide such documents, you will not be able to board the flight to your destination and end up going home. There are also instances that travelers forget to bring their international travel documents with them in their person because they have it arranged in their baggage. When you travel to another country, always bring with you personally all travel documents that recognizes you as a legal traveler permitted entry into their territory.
When you decide on which country to visit, each traveler normally visits the local consulate's office of the country you plan on visiting if you inquire for a VISA. VISAs depend on which countries need them as there are other countries that do not require VISA for entry, only your passport.
For departure requirements depending on certain countries, such as the US require one of the following:
- NEXUS Card
- Passport
- US Merchant Mariner Card
- Military ID Card
- DHS Travel Document (for lawful permanent residents)
- ADIT Stamp (for lawful permanent residents)
- Permanent Resident Card (for lawful permanent residents)
- Emergency Travel Document (for other purposes)
Other identification cards not recognized at the departure area are the Cedula, National Identification Card, Matricula Consular, Naturalization Certificate, Citizenship Card or Certificate, Birth Certificate and Driver's License. You can still bring them with you but they are not as important as the ones aforementioned in the list. For entry requirements mostly they will ask for your passport with visa of designated country and the health requirements. For more information on other travel documents that you need to bring with you, check your local consulate or foreign affairs office for more details.
In other types of traveling such as for training, school trips, etc. you may need to bring with you other required documents that are provided by the one who sponsored your trip. Usually they are additional documents that prove you are visiting the country for specific purposes so always prepare them in a separate bag that is able to carry all your official travel documents. Your passport should always be in a good condition as there are other countries that do not accept tattered passports so it should be free from errors or changes, stains, holes or significant tears.