A little preparation goes a long way, especially for international travel. Here are the official U.S. government resources I point every client to, so you can travel with confidence and skip the last-minute scramble.
Current Travel Alert — United Kingdom: As of February 25, 2026, U.S. citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before traveling to or transiting through the United Kingdom, even for short tourist trips. Read the
U.S. Embassy London notice or check the
UK travel advisory for full details.
Current Travel Alert — Schengen Area (EU): The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) is now fully live at all Schengen-area borders — U.S. citizens have fingerprints and a photo taken on first entry, so budget extra time at busier airports. A separate pre-travel authorization, ETIAS, has been delayed multiple times and is not yet in effect; no official launch date has been confirmed as of this writing. Check the
official EES page or the
official ETIAS page for the latest before booking travel to continental Europe.
Before You Go
Start here.
- International Travel Checklist — the State Department's 5-step framework: destination research, enrollment, documents, safety review, and insurance.
- Travel Advisories by Country — current safety/security level and entry, exit, and visa requirements for your destination.
- STEP — Smart Traveler Enrollment Program — free enrollment so the U.S. embassy can reach you with safety alerts while you're abroad. Takes about two minutes — or if you're already working with me on your trip, I'm happy to enroll you directly.
- Find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate — locate the nearest one at your destination.
- Travel Guidance Hub — the State Department's overview of safety, health, insurance, and personal-needs guidance for travelers abroad.
Passports & Visas
Documents, sorted early.
Many countries require six or more months of passport validity beyond your travel dates, plus blank visa pages. This varies by destination — check the specific country's advisory page above.
Airport Security & ID
Move through security smoothly.
- TSA — What Can I Bring? — quick lookup for anything you're unsure about packing.
- Acceptable ID at the Checkpoint
- REAL ID — what's required to fly domestically. If your driver's license isn't REAL ID-compliant, TSA charges a $45 fee (ConfirmID) at the originating airport for each leg of your trip — a layover doesn't trigger it again, but a round trip means paying it twice: once departing outbound, once departing for the return. Traveling with a valid U.S. passport avoids this entirely, since a passport is accepted at TSA checkpoints regardless of REAL ID status.
- Global Entry / TSA PreCheck — the official Trusted Traveler Programs application.
Customs — Returning to the U.S.
Land, declare, and go.
- Know Before You Go — what to declare and current duty-free limits when you land back in the U.S.
- Mobile Passport Control — a free alternative to Global Entry for eligible U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors. Submit your info by phone before landing and use a dedicated processing lane — no application or fee required.
Health & Travel Insurance
Stay covered, wherever you are.
- CDC Travelers' Health — destination-specific vaccine recommendations and health notices.
- Travel Insurance Guidance — the U.S. government does not cover medical care or evacuation abroad. Most domestic health plans, including Medicare, don't either.
Compare travel insurance partners on the Resources page →
Government requirements and fees change without notice — always confirm current details on the linked page before you travel.
