Passports

To enter Europe or Canada and reenter the United States (or Canada), you must have a passport. In fact, you will not be allowed to board an airline without a valid passport.

For U.S. Citizens
In the U.S., if you are a first-time applicant you must apply for your passport in person at a State Department passport agency if there is one in your city. If there is not, you may apply to an authorized clerk of federal or state court or at a post office. It will be necessary for you to complete an application form, pay a fee, and supply proof of U.S. citizenship, proof of identity, and two photographs that meet passport regulations. If you already have a passport, you may renew it by mail.

For further details regarding U.S. passports:
http://travel.state.gov/passport_easy.html

For Canadian citizens
To receive a passport in Canada, you must complete an application form, provide two identical passport photos taken within the last twelve months, have the application signed by a guarantor, provide proof of Canadian citizenship (Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Retention of Canadian Citizenship, Certificate of Registration of Birth Abroad), provide any relevant travel documents, and proof of identity.

For further details regarding Canadian passports: http://www.ppt.gc.ca/passports/how_obtain_e.asp

Be aware: Passport processing is taking much longer than in previous years. We recommend that you apply for your passport at least three months before your planned departure.

When you register for your trip, you will be asked to supply a photocopy of the photograph page of your passport. This page is then provided to the airlines for security purposes and is also available for reference in case of emergency. It is a good idea to carry a photocopy of your passport photograph page with you (or have a companion do so) while you travel. Having a copy will expedite replacement in case the original is lost.

top ^

You will be subject to Passport Control (and Customs) when you first enter a European country, such as at Munich, Germany, en route to Austria. There are few formalities between member countries of the European Union. The same applies as you enter at a Canadian gateway airport.

When traveling, protect your passport as you would your wallet. Never pack it in your baggage, but rather keep it securely on your person. Since you may cross national borders where passports are required - even on brief day trips - always keep it accessible. Make a copy of your passport and carry it in a separate place.

Throughout your trip, use only your passport name on registration forms, rooming lists, and trip-related documents. Airline tickets are issued according to the passport name. International airlines examine both the tickets and the passport and will not board a passenger when there is a name discrepancy between them. It follows that a person may not travel on someone else’s air ticket.