Passports & Visas

Passports

Passports are required for all Encore Tours trips traveling abroad. You are responsible for obtaining your own passport so please don’t delay! Visit your post office or a local office of the federal government for an application form. Note that some countries require that passports be valid for six months after you return to the United States. Please be sure that yours is up-to-date.

For more information about obtaining a passport and processing times, visit www.travel.state.gov

Birth Certificates

Students 18 and younger traveling to Canada by bus need to have either their original birth certificate or a certified copy with them in order to cross the border (if traveling by plane, or if they are 19 or older they will need a passport). In addition, students should bring a government-issued ID (if available) to prove they are the person whose birth certificate they are presenting.

We Require Your Full Name

It’s necessary that we have your first, middle and last name on file exactly as your name appears on your passport. If the full name on your Encore Tours/ACIS account does not match that on your passport, please contact Client Services immediately at 1-877-795-0813 or email questions@encoretours.com

Real ID

As of May 7, 2025 all passengers 18 years or older will need to have a REAL ID license, a valid passport or military ID to travel by air within the US. If you are flying within the US, please make sure that your ID matches these requirements.

For information on REAL ID Requirements and application instructions, please refer to the US Department of Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs

Visas

No visas are required for U.S. citizens traveling to western or central Europe, Costa Rica or Mexico. Visas are required for U.S. citizens traveling to Australia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Russia, and Vietnam.* Groups traveling to or through the UK or traveling to Australia are responsible for securing their own ETA Tourist Visa. For many of the other destinations, Encore will assist U.S. passport holders to obtain necessary visas. Your group leader will collect your group’s passports and send them to Encore for visa application processing approximately 120 days prior to departure. Visas are necessary for participants connecting through these countries, even if they are not the final destination.

* Visas may be required for other destinations. Please contact your group leader for more information.

Important Information for Non-U.S. Citizens

Non-U.S. citizens are responsible for obtaining all documents needed to enter the countries to be visited or connected through, and for reentry into the U.S.A. Please consult the consular offices of the countries on your itinerary, as well as the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, for complete information. Non-U.S. citizens denied boarding for the countries to be visited or connected through are only eligible for a refund if they have purchased the Ultimate Protection Plan and cancel prior to the trip’s departure.

Further Reading:

• Travel Documents Needed for a Performance Tour: Passports, Visas, and Birth Certificate Information
• What is the Role of an Encore Group Leader?
• Domestic Flights with your Music Ensemble: New USA Real ID Laws
• A First-Timer’s Timeline for Planning a Performance Tour
• FAQ