# Travel between countries. Passport enough? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 18, 2010, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-between-countries-passport-enough/547106 "2010-07-18T08:52:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-between-countries-passport-enough/547106/1 "2010-07-18T08:52:36Z")
We’re visiting family for a couple weeks in the Philippines. For fun, we’re taking a “side trip” to Tokyo. As it is, I’m more excited about Japan, and consider the Philippines a side trip. Anyway, we’re US citizens and will be staying in Tokyo for about a week. For those of you who have traveled abroad, will I need more than a passport and a return ticket to enter/leave Japan, coming from a non-US country? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-between-countries-passport-enough/547106/2 "2010-07-18T09:32:00Z")
A [passport and return ticket](http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1148.html#entry_requirements) are all that’s needed. It’s the same in the [Philippines](http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_999.html#entry_requirements), but I guess you already knew that. For all other countries, here’s the [full list from the State Department](http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html). ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-between-countries-passport-enough/547106/3 "2010-07-18T11:00:36Z")
Moving this from Cafe Society to GQ, for which no passport is needed. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-between-countries-passport-enough/547106/4 "2010-07-18T17:52:38Z")
Thanks Tapioca. I was just wondering if it was different since I wasn’t coming from the USA to Japan, but rather the Philippines to Japan. Apparently not, so that’s a relief. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-between-countries-passport-enough/547106/5 "2010-07-18T18:05:22Z")
I recently visited the Philippines and although it was just a layover and we didn’t go through customs, we stopped in Japan (Tokyo-Narita). I don’t recall being asked for anything other than a passport, but it’s always good to have multiple ID while traveling, just in case. I’d have my driver’s license handy if I were you, but I assume you keep that in your wallet anyway. Where are you going in the Philippines, by the way? I had a great time, even though it was mostly for work. I _highly_ recommend going to Donsol to [swim with the whale sharks](http://www.donsolecotour.com/), if it’s at all possible! ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-between-countries-passport-enough/547106/6 "2010-07-18T18:53:01Z")
> [@HubZilla](#): > > I was just wondering if it was different since I wasn’t coming from the USA to Japan, but rather the Philippines to Japan. I’m a UK citizen and I’ve done the same kind of journey maybe a dozen different times in various country combinations. If I can do Gabon \> Singapore, then Tokyo should be a breeze. My next transnational trip will be Iraq to Chicago. Yikes! ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-between-countries-passport-enough/547106/7 "2010-07-19T18:49:22Z")
Which countrys is your passport. Depending on that you might be able to get away with just a passport or need a visa. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-between-countries-passport-enough/547106/8 "2010-07-19T19:08:41Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Which countrys is your passport. Depending on that you might be able to get away with just a passport or need a visa. Americans don’t need visas to go to either Japan or the Philippines. eta: as tourists. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-between-countries-passport-enough/547106/9 "2010-07-19T23:00:52Z")
I once had difficulty checking in for a flight from Japan to a US territory. As an Irish citizen, I did not need a visa for the trip, but the person at the check-in desk in Kansai airport did not know that, and had to check with the US embassy in Tokyo. To forestall such a possibility, you may wish to print out a document stating that you do not need a visa to visit Japan. However it is most unlikely you will need it.