Resources for International Travel
Passports
Visas
Vaccinations
Registering with State Department
Travel Alerts
Travel Warnings
Weather
Country Information
Traveling with Disabilities
Passports
The first step to traveling internationally is a passport. You must apply, submit evidence of U.S. citizenship, provide identification, as well as photocopies of identification, pay the application fee and provide two passport photos.
Click here to find out more information about applying for a passport.
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Visas
Depending on the country and the length of your stay, there are several types of visas, and you will need to determine which one you need, if any. To see whether or not you need a visa to visit a certain country, you should check the "Entry Exit Requirements" link for the country you are traveling to.
Click here for country information.
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Vaccinations
Different countries will require different vaccinations. Click here to see the Centers for Disease Control's general information regarding vaccinations, including routine vaccinations, then click here to see country-specific vaccination requirements.
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Registering with State Department
Registering your travel with the United States Embassy can provide useful in the case of an emergency and you need to be contacted. Registration is strongly encouraged if you plan to stay in the country for more than a month or if you are visiting a country with a travel alert or warning.
Click here to register with the U.S. Department of State.
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Travel Alerts
The U.S. Department of State periodically lists countries in which travel may not be safe for U.S. travelers in the short term. The reasons for the alerts can range from natural disasters to civil unrest to high-profile events. Each country on the list has a link describing the nature of the alert. The list exists to inform U.S. travelers of places that could be potentially unsafe; therefore, travelers should use extreme caution when traveling to a country on the U.S. Department of State's travel alert list. Travel alerts are normally short-term. Click here to view the current travel alerts.
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Travel Warnings
Travel warnings are a step up from travel alerts. The U.S. Department of State issues travel warnings in countries where long-term conditions (such as war, high terrorist activity, etc.) make them dangerous or unstable and, therefore, unsafe for U.S. travelers. Each country on the list of travel warnings links to more detailed information about nature of the warning. LSU students are not allowed to study abroad in countries with travel warnings. Click here to view the current travel warnings.
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Weather
Knowing weather conditions in the country to which you are traveling can aid greatly in your packing. Click here and choose a country to view weather conditions there.
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Country Information
The U.S. Department of State provides invaluable country-by-country information, such as country description, entry/exit requirements, safety and security, crime, medical facilities and health information, medical insurance, traffic safety and road conditions, special circumstances, criminal penalties, children’s issues and registration/embassy locations. Click here and choose a country to access this information.
In addition to informing yourself about the country you are visiting, you should also inform yourself of the culture. Click here to learn about cultural etiquette of many different countries.
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Traveling with Disabilities
For those with disabilities that need specific accommodations, country research is crucial -- it's better to be aware of what accommodations each country has because disability accommodations vary by country.
Click here for information on traveling with disabilities.
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