Travel Documents
Passport
Your passport must be valid for at least six months following your scheduled return to the United States. You are also required to have a certain number of blank pages available in your passport, which varies according to the options you selected. Please see your Handbook for details.
When you arrive, you will need to clear Passport Control and Customs on your own. If you are using O.A.T.’s regular air program (international flights booked through O.A.T. for standard dates), or have purchased an airport transfer, an O.A.T. Representative will meet you at the airport after you exit Customs and assist you with the transfer to your hotel. Airport Representatives are easy to recognize: they carry signs with your name or the O.A.T. logo, clipboards with the O.A.T. logo on the back, or are wearing O.A.T. jackets.
Please note: If you booked your own international flights, airport transfers are NOT included in your program price (unless otherwise noted). If you purchased an airport transfer as an optional add-on, it will be noted on your most recent invoice. Please note that transfers are not available to purchase onsite. If you have arranged to arrive/depart on a different day than is standard for your program (booked on your own or through O.A.T.), transfers are not available; please plan to meet your group at your first hotel.
- TIP: Any pages containing visas for this trip count towards the total, even though these pages are no longer blank at this point.
Visas
U.S. citizens may need a visa (or visas) for this trip. In addition, there may be other entry requirements that also need to be met. For your convenience, we’ve included a quick reference list, organized by country:
Base and Optional Extensions
- EU Countries (Norway, Iceland, Denmark): U.S. citizens will require an online visa-waiver to enter countries in the European Union. There is no set timeline for when this requirement will start – we advise all travelers check the official EU website and our link below for further information.
Information regarding the EU visa-waiver above can be found here »
If you are not a U.S. citizen, do not travel with a U.S. passport, or will be traveling independently before/after this trip, then your entry requirements may be different. Please check with the appropriate embassy or a visa servicing company. To contact our recommended visa servicing company, PVS International, call toll-free at 1-800-556-9990.
Travel Protection Required:
For new bookings starting 1/1/25, Overseas Adventure Travel requires all travelers purchase travel protection with Medical Evacuation coverage of at least $200,000 and Medical Expense coverage of at least $50,000, due to the remote nature of your adventure.
O.A.T. Travel Protection:
If you purchase your Travel Protection Plan through O.A.T., no further action will be needed, as the Medical Evacuation coverage and Medical Expense coverage meets these requirements.
Your Own Travel Protection:
If you purchase your own travel protection, we recommend you review the plan to ensure Medical Evacuation coverage of at least $200,000 and Medical Expense coverage of at least $50,000 is included. Once you confirm your plan meets the requirements, you will need to email the following information to [email protected]:
- Traveler Name(s)
- Reservation Number
- Trip Protection Provider
- Policy Number
- Date of Purchase
- Copy of your Policy Documents
The coverage information above is for all states and Washington DC, except for WA. For additional information on WA coverage please call our Travel Counselors.
You can contact our Travel Counselors at 1-800-221-0814 to review this policy. You will be required to provide proof of coverage by 60 days prior to departure at the latest. All reservations without travel protection will be at risk of cancellation.
Please note: Coverage and maximum amounts of Trip Mate’s Travel Protection Plan may vary by state and may not be available in all states. Please visit the Trip Mate website for details and important disclosures.
Vaccinations Information
For a detailed and up-to-date list of vaccinations that are recommended for this trip, please visit the CDC’s “Traveler’s Health” website. You can also refer to the handbook for details.
Before Your Trip
Before you leave on your adventure, there are at least four health-related things you should do. Please check the handbook for specifics, but for now, here’s the short list:
Step 1: Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you’ll be visiting.
Step 2: Have a medical checkup with your doctor.
Step 3: Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.
Step 4: Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less important than steps 1-3.)
Trusted Traveler Programs
Some travelers have found that Trusted Traveler programs can expedite long waits at customs when re entering the U.S. There are currently three programs available: Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI. These three programs also include TSA Pre-Check, which allows you to use a dedicated security line at participating airports, or you can apply solely for TSA Pre-Check.
TIP: Keep in mind that not all airports and airlines participate in these programs. You may want to consider checking with your airport prior to applying to find out if these programs would benefit you.
To apply for a Trusted Traveler program or TSA Pre-Check, typically you will be asked to pay an application fee (varies by program) and schedule a background check and/or an interview. If you are approved, you will be issued a Known Traveler Number (KTN). Your KTN is valid for a set number of years, based on the conditions of the program. Please see the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for more details on each of these programs: www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs. You can also find more information about TSA Pre-Check at www.tsa.gov/precheck.
If you are enrolled in TSA Pre-Check (or a Trusted Traveler program that includes it), you must provide your KTN to the airlines.
What to Bring
Reminder: Bring a "Backup" Form of Payment. We strongly recommend that you bring some form of payment that can cover any unexpected expenses that might come up during your trip (i.e. a cash reserve or a couple of different credit cards). Not only will this ensure that you don't miss out on any once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, but it will also protect you in the unlikely event of an emergency. For example, in many foreign countries, it is common to pay medical bills upfront at time of treatment. (If you have our Travel Protection Plan, you would then submit a claim once you return home.)
Shopping & Returns: O.A.T. cannot accept responsibility for items you purchase abroad, or for shipping. In the unlikely event that you later experience a problem with an item purchased during your trip, your best recourse is to contact the shop directly. This means you should keep a copy of the shop's contact information with your receipts. Please see your Travel Handbook for more details.
You are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag: Additional luggage may incur extra expenses that you would be responsible for (portage, airline fees), or may need to be left behind, so please pack judiciously.
Baggage fees: If your airline has fees, you will be responsible for paying them when you check in. Most airlines are now charging fees, even for flights to international destinations.