An Intro to Passports and Visas for Your International Move

You won’t get far in an overseas move without the right travel documents and paperwork. This process must start well ahead of your departure date.

A little planning and forethought to make sure you understand the requirements, complete all the forms and account for any government bureaucracy will help to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Documentation requirements and procedures are detailed, complicated and often subject to change. Each country has its own regulations, so don’t assume that your familiarity with the requirements of any country prepares you for another.

The consular office of your host country’s embassy is the best place to start when determining what types of documents you’ll need, including passports, visas, permits and registration requirements. Check with the consulate periodically to ensure that you know the latest rules, because documentation regulations may change on short notice.

Passports

A passport is an official verification of the holder’s nationality and, with a few exceptions, is required to enter another country. In many cases, a visa will not be issued unless you have a passport.

Each member of your family should have a passport. Some countries will refuse entry to visitors whose passports expire during the period of their stay, so make sure passports for you and your family members are valid for well past your stay.

Check with your destination country’s nearest consulate for the passport requirements before you depart.

Visas

A visa allows a foreigner to enter a country for a specific purpose and duration. It’s usually stamped in the visitor’s passport, although sometimes it may be on a separate document. It may authorize a single visit or multiple entries to the country.

Most countries in North America and Europe no longer require visas for a tourist visit, or even some business visits of limited duration, perhaps up to 90 days. In some cases where a work permit is required, the permit may take the form of or be incorporated into a visa.

The country you are visiting may issue a visa via its consulates and embassies. You may need to obtain your visa before traveling, although in some cases visas can be obtained at the port of entry.

An expatriate and his or her spouse, sometimes accompanied by one or more children, will usually make at least one preliminary trip to the country of assignment to arrange housing and schools, especially if the family is being relocated. A tourist visa, or often no visa at all, usually suffices for these scouting visits.

Once you’re ready to make the big move, countries require longer-term visas. When inquiring about the regulations, make sure you specify that you are relocating to the country. Real problems can result if you obtain the wrong type of visa. The last thing you want, when starting your life abroad, is to find yourself escorted across the border in the wrong direction.