Traveling Internationally in 2025

Things have changed. We know that traveling in an out of the United States, even as a US-born citizen has become stressful and uncertain. As the US Government has decided to target even “natural-born citizens”, honestly? We have no answers on how to guarantee you won’t be targeted by the government in the near future. We do hope things will change for the better, and we do go out and do the work to try to foster that change. But until then? We can only offer some tips for helping you along in your travels.

THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE OR ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO ILLEGALLY ENTER THE COUNTRY. WE OFFER THIS PURELY IN THE CONTEXT OF VACATION TRAVEL PREPARATION.

REMEMBER: Pay close attention to your Adventure Guide’s instructions about what documentation you will need to travel WHEN BOOKING. Sometimes international travel requires work on your part, well in advance of your departure.

Use PAPER or PHYSICAL Documents

Print your boarding passes and itineraries on paper. This will make things easier for you and the officials – and you won’t have to volunteer your electronic devices to officials that you’ve previously turned off and stowed in a bag.

Traveling With Your ID Documents

Your Birth Certificate or Naturalization Documents

Don’t travel with your original birth certificate or naturalization documents. Your Naturalization Certificate won’t work for travel anyway, you must obtain a passport. These documents are often rare, fragile, and unique documents and would be devastating to lose. Leave originals with your closest friend or family member in case things get complicated while you’re abroad. At the very least, keep it in a safe place that someone close to you knows how to access on your behalf.

You can request a certified “original” copy of your birth certificate from the county in which you were born. Regardless of travel plans, we recommend keeping at least 2 certified copies of your documents safe in separate locations.

Traveling with your Passport and Real ID

Although you don’t NEED both to fly, we highly recommend traveling with both your government passport and your Real ID drivers license, for good measure. A regular drivers license will no longer be accepted by the TSA after May 7, 2025.

If you’re flying outside of the United States, you will not be able to fly with your Real ID alone. You will need a citizen document like your passport. A Real ID only allows you to travel within the United States but will help with any Federal ID questions.

Take photos of both documents and make paper copies to carry with you. You’ll need the originals to travel, but the copies will help if things get complicated.

Traveling with Electronic Devices

Traveling With A Smartphone or Tablet

Border officials have the right to search all of your electronic devices when you enter the country and do not need a warrant. (Although, there is a conflict to this rule currently making it’s way through the courts.) They can search your devices either by asking you to unlock it and they’ll visually search it, or they can copy the data from your device using software.

If you’re concerned about your privacy when traveling with your phone, you have two options:

Backup and wipe your device. The most cost effective option. You can use the internet to search how to backup your specific device(s) – and you can use that backup to restore your the device(s) when you return home. Once your device is backed up, you can “wipe” it to factory settings, which will remove contacts, messages, photos and all the accounts you hold. Before you depart for your trip, re-enter vital contacts if you need them while traveling.

A Real ID drivers includes federally recognized ID features for security. You will need EITHER your Real ID or Passport to fly domestically after May 7, 2025 – a regular drivers license alone will no longer be allowed.

If you haven’t gotten your Real ID yet, it’s pretty easy. Visit the website of your local DMV or licensing department in your state. A Real ID is a new drivers license that comes with verified citizenship

2. Travel with an alternative phone. The easiest option. Leave your primary devices at home and travel with a factory new phone. You don’t need to buy a “burner” phone, (that means you’d buy it with cash and ensure your contact information is not connected to that device.) what you want is a new device that is “yours” but doesn’t have your private information on it. At the very least, remove social media apps and other un-needed accounts from your phone before traveling.

In both cases, you want to make sure that there is some data on it. Photos, some benign messages, etc. Use it for a few days. You don’t want a suspiciously clean phone – put some information you need for traveling on the device before you travel.

Honestly, we recommend using either of these methods to travel safely abroad regardless of what you may experience when coming home. If your devices are stolen or lost while traveling this will keep your private information safe from anyone.

If You Suspect You’ll Be Questioned

If you have attended protests, spoken out against issues or otherwise done some things that may cause you to be questioned, KEEP IT UP! ?? – Also, do the following: