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Obtaining a passport or visa

How do I obtain a US passport?

It is the individual responsibility of each team member to obtain a valid U.S. passport.
Passports are obtained through the U.S. Department of State. You can obtain information on applying for a passport on the US State Department’s website.

The routine turn-around time for obtaining a passport is 8 weeks. While it is possible to expedite your passport, the closer you are to your travel date the more difficult and expensive it will be. We urge you to obtain your passport early. How to get your passport fast (State Department website)

Note: When you apply for your passport you have the option of obtaining a Regular Book or a Large Book, which contains additional page for visas.. Although the Large Book is labeled “non-standard” there is no additional fee for a Large Book. If you expect to travel frequently, we recommend the Large Book so that you do not run out of blank pages (see below).

If you already have a passport, there are a couple of considerations to keep in mind:
  1. Some countries (including Eswatini and South Africa) require that your must passport have two (2) to four (4) blank visa/stamp pages. The airline may not allow you to board if this requirement in not met. It is no longer possible to obtain additional pages for your passport. If you do not have sufficient pages, you will have to obtain a new passport.
  2. Some countries (including Eswatini and South Africa) require that your passport be valid at least six (6) months beyond the dates of your trip. The airline may not allow you to board if this requirement is not met.
  3. If your passport has been significantly damaged, especially the book cover or the page displaying your personal data and photo, you will need to apply for a new passport. “Damage” includes water damage, torn pages, unofficial markings on the data page, and holes. Please bear in mind that you will pass through three countries’ jurisdictions and if your passport is unacceptable to any of the three it will cause considerable problems as you travel.
Do I need a visa?

Travellers with a US passport do not need a special visa to enter South Africa or Eswatini. If you have a passport from a country other than the United States, you should consult with the issuing country to determine whether you need to obtain a visa.

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