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Foreign Business Travel Requirements
Make sure you have your travel documents and other requirements completed for a successful trip.

Foreign Business Travel Requirements

All international travelers are required to have proper documentation before leaving the United States. You must have a current U.S. passport, visas from certain host countries, and—in some instances—vaccination records.  

Start preparing early.  Businesses should allow at least 6 to 8 weeks to acquire all the necessary documents.  

Passports 

All travel outside the United States and its possessions requires a valid U.S. passport. Information is available from the nearest local passport office. You can also get information on passports, applications, and renewals from the U.S. Department of State. If you are in a hurry, express service is available for a fee. 

 

Visas 

Many countries require visas, which cannot be obtained through the U.S. Passport Services Directorate. Visas are provided by a foreign country’s embassy or consulate in the United States for a small fee. You must have a current U.S. passport to obtain a visa, and in many cases, a recent photo is required. Allow several weeks to obtain visas, especially if you are traveling to developing nations.

Some foreign countries require visas for business travel, but not for tourist travel. When you request visas from a consulate or an embassy, you should notify the authorities that you will be conducting business.

Check visa requirements each time you travel to a country, since regulations change periodically. 

 

Vaccinations 

Requirements for vaccinations differ by country. Although there may not be any restrictions on direct travel to and from the United States, there may be restrictions if you travel indirectly and stop over in another country before reaching your final destination. Although not required, vaccinations against typhus, typhoid, and other diseases are advisable. Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for current conditions by country and region. 

 

Customs 

Because foreign customs regulations vary by country, find out which regulations apply to each country you plan to visit. 

If you’re bringing a product for demonstration or sample purposes, an ATA carnet may be helpful. 

 

Travel Advisories 

Find out if there are travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State for the countries you plan to visit. Advisories alert travelers to potentially dangerous in-country situations.  

Country Commercial Guides

Check the Business Customs chapters of Country Commercial Guides.

Other Tips 

  • Prepare for different weather conditions. Seasonal weather conditions in the countries could be different from conditions at home. 

  • Address health care issues. Plan appropriately with respect to prescription drugs, health insurance, vaccinations, and other matters, including dietary needs and preferences. 

  • Think about money. U.S. banks can provide a list of automatic teller machines overseas, exchange rates, and traveler’s checks. 

     

 

 

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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