Five Things
Ways to help avoid passport headaches

1. Don't assume that a client's passport is up to date, even if it hasn't expired. Some countries require that a traveler's passport not expire within six months of travel, according to Joel Widzer, an expert on loyalty and frequent-flyer programs and the author of "The Penny Pincher's Passport to Luxury Travel." Countries that fall under this category include Brazil, Ecuador (including the Galapagos Islands), Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Paraguay,Romania and Singapore. Countries with a three-month rule include Cambodia, Denmark (including Greenland), Fiji and Switzerland.

2. If your clients are scrambling for a last-minute passport, have them contact the host country's embassy or consulate to see if they can get a special visa for travel within the expiration period, according to Widzer. Or have them apply for an expedited renewal, which, for an additional fee of $60, takes about two weeks. "If you have been traveling a lot and have run out of passport pages, you can add new passport pages," he said. "Be aware that South Africa requires that all travelers have at least two blank pages for visas in their passports."

3. Make sure your clients know that many Middle Eastern and African countries will deny entry and refuse to issue a visa if their current passport contains an entry or exit stamp from Israel. "Clients in this situation should apply for a new passport," Widzer said.

4. Keep up to date on new passport rules scheduled to take effect for travel to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada. "As of [Jan. 8], a passport or other secure documentation will be required for all travel by air or by sea to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda," Widzer said. As of Dec. 31, 2007, a passport or other secure documentation will also be required for all land-border crossings to or from these countries.

5. Inform your clients that all U.S. citizens must have their own passports. "Children cannot be included on a parent's passport; even newborn babies must have a passport to travel," Widzer said.

Travel Weekly
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