As a professional travel agent, advising your clients of the documentation required for their travel, such as a passport and/or visa adds to the value you bring to your client. Be sure to refer your clients to the Department of State’s site for up-to-date information on the countries they will visit during their trip. It is ultimately the client’s responsibility to ensure they are compliant with all passport, visa, and Real ID regulations.

Passports

A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue or verify United States passports.

U.S. Passport Application Information
A passport application is one of the first steps to obtaining a passport, renewing a passport, adding more pages to a passport, changing the name on your passport, or getting a passport for a minor. Often people use the terms passport form and passport application interchangeably.

What is a passport application?
A passport application is a form designed by the government to permit you to obtain a passport, which will enable you to travel abroad and to be re-admitted in your home country.

Where do I find a passport application?
You can obtain a passport application in many ways. One way is to visit a passport acceptance agency, such as a post office. Another way is to visit the Department of State’s site.To learn more about passports, read our blog post: 7 Things Travelers Need to Know About Passports.

VISAS

A visa is a travel document from officials in a foreign country. This allows you to visit a country for a specific amount of time. Over 270 countries offer visas, and there is more than one type of visa offered.

There are many different types of visas depending on the reason for travel and the number of times the person is planning on entering the country. A Tourist/Travel Visa is a specific type of visa for travelers who are visiting a country for tourist reasons or visiting friends and relatives for a limited time period. A Business Visa is for travelers who are visiting another country for a limited period of time for the purpose of commercial meetings, discussions, negotiations, or similar activities.

There are certain countries that require a traveler to apply for their visa prior to travel. It is important to know which countries require this in advance so that you can ensure your clients’ travel will be a smooth process. Please be sure you check the Department of State’s site to view the requirements for each leg of your client’s trip so you can advise them on what is needed and required for travel.

REAL ID

Domestic travel does not require a passport, but beginning in May 2025, all travelers over 18 will be required to provide a Real ID to fly within the U.S.

Most states are now issuing a Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses and state identification cards, but some states have still not fully converted to this practice. To find out if your state is compliant, check out the Department of Homeland Security’s helpful map.

Even if your client’s state is compliant with the Real ID laws, your client may still have the previous style of driver’s license (not a Real ID) if they have not renewed their license recently. Start educating your clients now about the Real ID card and why they may need to renew their identification. To learn more about Real IDs, visit the Department of Homeland Security’s site.