What is a passport?
A passport is a document issued to citizens by a country’s government to verify the identity and nationality of an individual for the purpose of international travel. You will need a passport to participate the Sustainable Central America course or in any international education travel abroad program. Visit the U.S. Department of State Passport Services for more information on how to apply for or renew a passport.
Visas
A visa is a document of permission to lawfully enter another country given to you by that country. In many cases that visa is given in the form of a stamp in a passport book and the permission is given by the immigration official at the border. Your visa has limits, like how long you can remain in the country, the nature of your visit or whether can be employed. There are countries or types of visas for which one must apply before traveling. You do not need to do this for our trip. Because you are not enrolling in a school and we are traveling for a short period of time you will receive a tourist visa at the customs and immigration entry point shortly after we land in Panama and another visa when we cross the land border into Costa Rica. They will be stamped in your passport.
How long/Much
Applying for a new passport book (see below) will cost $160 in combined fees and take up to 8 weeks.
There are expedited options and lower fees for renewals so make sure to click the Begin Application for Passport button above for more information.
Book or Card?
Book. When you apply for a passport there are two options: a passport book and a passport card. You need a passport book to travel with us to Panama and Costa Rica. The book is a standard passport that has empty pages where immigration oficials from Panama and Costa Rica will put your visa (see above). The card is used for countries that do not issue visas as stamps (for example Canada). You can order both if you would like but you need the book for this course.
My Name Is Different
If your name is different today than it was on your birth certificate there is an additional form to complete (see the Begin Passport Application button above). As of January 20 2025 the US government requires that the sex designation on your passport match the sex designation on your birth certificate. If you already have a passport with a different sex than that on your birth certificate, or an X rather than M or F, that passport is still valid for international travel until it expires.
Not a us citizen
If you are not a US citizen you must secure travel documents through your home country. Please note that you should make sure to get advice on the nature of your visa for the US as well as what visas are necessary for you as a citizen of your country to travel to Panama and Costa Rica.