Passport Requirements

Your passport is the most critical document related to your visa application. Typically, only a copy of your passport will be required for your visa application. Though you need to ensure that the copy you make of it is very clear, and all the information on it can be clearly read. If you keep your passport in a protective case or have a laminated cover over it, you should remove it from the holder prior to taking a photocopy of it. Also, color photocopies are more advantageous and appreciated by the embassies. Below are some additional tips and recommendations as they pertain to your passport document.

Validity Dates

You need to ensure that your passport will be valid for at least six months from when you plan on entering your country. So if you are applying for a visa and your travel date is two months from today, you need to ensure that your passport is still valid for another eight months from today.

Empty Pages

There is a lesser-known requirement that many countries still ask for though it is slowly losing its importance. A minimum of two empty pages in your passport is typically required. The reason for this is that many countries in the world still like to stamp passports. This process was an age-old way of tracking a person's entry and exit dates. However, in this day and age, many countries are moving to more automated ways of processing travel, and the stamp is becoming less and less needed. We still recommend following this policy, the last thing you want to have happened is being turned away at the border because of this technicality.

Biometrics

Most modern passports now contain biometric information within an RFID chip embedded into the document. The most common form of biometrics within passports is a digitized version of the photo that appears in the passport. Some countries will also include fingerprints, and a few offer iris images. However, these latter two options are for returning citizens only as other countries have no way of accessing this data. Biometrics within passports ensure that the person holding the passport is the rightful owner of the document and helps identify forged documents. Passport documents that do not contain any biometrics options will often be scrutinized more than their counterparts and will slow things down. If you have the opportunity, you should opt for a biometric passport to help your future travels.

Condition of the Passport

The condition of the passport can be an issue and grounds for rejection for a visa application if the information page is not legible or damaged in any way. If you find that your passport has been damaged or contains any rips or deep creases, you should look at replacing the document as soon as possible to avoid any future issues with it. The replacement fees are minimal to the costs that you could incur if you were to be rejected at a border and have to return home from your trip.