International travel doesn’t have to be tricky – just follow these steps to help you prepare for your trip.
We recommend you:
If you travel often, skip the paperwork and lines with:
You’re responsible to make sure you have the correct documents to enter and pass through any countries during your trip, and then make your way back home. If you don’t have the required documentation and identification, you will not be allowed to board the plane and would be responsible for any resulting costs.
Keep in mind:
All children, regardless of age, must have a passport and any travel documents required by the countries visited. If you’re traveling internationally with anyone under 18, you may be required to show documentary evidence of your relationship and a Letter of Consent or permission for the child's travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian not present.
A passport is required for all international travel. If you're traveling anywhere overseas, you need a passport to board an international flight and to enter the country. Passport cards will not be accepted as form of I.D. for international air travel.
Keep in mind:
U.S. citizens can use any government-issued form of identification to travel between the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In addition to a passport, some countries require a visa to enter. If you’re traveling to the U.S. for a stay less than 90 days, the Department of Homeland Security requires eligible travelers to use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), as part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). You must submit your application no later than 72 hours before departing for the U.S., but we suggest you apply for authorization when you start planning your trip. You will be denied boarding if you arrive at the airport without an approved ESTA.
An approved ESTA travel authorization is:
To enter the U.S. under the VWP, each passenger must have a machine-readable passport. If you don’t have a machine-readable zone, a valid visa is required.
Each passenger traveling to the U.S. under the VWP must have a:
If you present a non-electronic passport, a valid U.S. visa will be required or you’ll be denied boarding and entry into the U.S.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires all passengers flying to the United States to provide their contact information within 72 hours of departure. This information may be used by public health officials to follow up with passengers who may have been exposed to a contagious disease during travel.
Some countries have additional requirements for travel, so we recommend that you check the U.S. Department of State website for the latest information and sign up for their Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
Travelers flying to Australia from certain countries, including the U.S., will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for entry.
Brazil has postponed requiring an eVisa for U.S., Canadian and Australian citizens until April 2025.
Most people traveling to Canada, even for short stays, need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Some travelers, like U.S. citizens, may only need a valid passport.
Simplify your arrival process by completing your customs and immigration declaration in advance. Submit your declaration online or in the ArriveCAN app up to 72 hours before your flight to a participating airport in Canada.
Under the VWP, Nationals of Chile traveling to the U.S. are required to have an E-passport in addition to a machine-readable passport.
All travelers entering Cuba will need to prepare additional information including a visa and health insurance.
Travelers flying to Curaçao will need to complete a digital embarkation/disembarkation card (ED Card) prior to their trip.
If you are a permanent resident of Australia or travelling on a passport from a visa waiver country, you'll need an New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). Some visitors and transit passengers can travel to New Zealand without a visa if they get an NZeTA before their trip.
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Customers traveling to or from Peru with amounts of cash exceeding $10,000 USD or its equivalent in local or foreign currency are legally responsible for declaring such amount at airport controls to avoid sanctions and up to the confiscation of the undeclared amount, as per Article 4 of Supreme Decree 195-2013-EF.
Additionally, it is prohibited entering or leaving the country with amounts over $30,000 USD or its equivalent in local or foreign currency.
The United Kingdom (UK) requires travelers to obtain an ETA before entering or transiting through the UK for short stays of up to 6 months. This requirement starts on January 8, 2025.
You may be denied boarding if you don’t have an approved ETA before your trip to the UK.
If you have a UK visa and use a biometric residence permit (BRP) or card (BRC) to prove your immigration status:
Access your eVisa Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines.
If you already have an eVisa:
To travel, vaccinations may be required depending on where you’re traveling to and from.
When traveling to Nicaragua, a Yellow Fever shot will be required if you departed from or connected through any of these countries in the last 30 days:
Flights to and from certain countries require insecticide treatment (a process known as disinsection) inside the cabin for insect and disease control. The U.S. Department of Transportation provides full information about the spray and the countries required to use it.
Your checked and carry-on bags may be sprayed or misted with a solution upon arrival due to local health protocols for virus and disease control. This action is performed by local authorities and not American Airlines.
You may be entitled to a refund of some taxes included in the price of your ticket if you meet the applicable criteria for exemptions and your itinerary involves:
Learn about regulations and procedures that apply to all travelers that enter or depart the United States.
Travel tips Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines
To enhance border security, passenger information will be passed through the Advanced Passenger Information (API) system and sent to U.S. Customs and Border Protection to review passenger information before the flight arrives.
All visitors to the U.S., except nationals of Canada, will have their photograph and fingerprints taken, and will automatically be registered under the Visit the U.S. program when they pass through Customs and Border Protection.
Secure Flight Passenger Data is basic personal information the TSA requires for you to travel. The information is collected during booking or ticketing.
