U.S. State Department Form DS-4085: Application for Additional Visa Pages
How many blank pages do you need in your passport?
At Vantage Travel, we hear this question a lot from our passengers. The answer isn’t simple, but it’s important, as some countries won’t provide a visa stamp on a passport with too few blank pages.
In general, you will need one blank visa page for each country on your itinerary that requires a visa.
When traveling to many African and Middle Eastern countries, it’s important to have two blank visa pages, side by side, for each country you plan to visit. This is in addition to the four amendment/endorsement pages at the very back of your passport. If you plan to return to a country after visiting a neighboring one during your trip (for example, if your trip takes you from South Africa to Namibia and then back to South Africa), you may need two more pages to accept an additional visa stamp on re-entry.
Because requirements change frequently, the best advice we can give is to research the visa regulations for your destination when planning your trip. The U.S. State Department International Travel pages give passport and visa requirements for every country in the world. Although the following list is not exhaustive, be sure to check blank page requirements if your visit takes you to any of the following countries:
Adding Pages to a Passport
Need more pages for visa stamps? Visit the State Department travel site, and complete Form DS-4085: Application for Additional Visa Pages. This service is free unless you require expedited processing. (Routine service takes 4-6 weeks; expedited service takes 2-3 weeks and costs $60).
U.S. Passport Service, a passport expediting service, has a web page with additional information on how to add pages to a passport if you’re uncertain how to proceed.
Locations of U.S. Passport Agencies
When all else fails, the fastest way to get a passport or additional pages in your existing passport is to go in person to a U.S. Passport Agency. If you live in a large city, there’s probably one near you. The State Department travel web site has a map showing the locations of all agencies.
Some Other Countries with Unusual Visa Requirements
Some Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, have been known to occasionally refuse entry to U.S. travelers whose passports either indicate that they were born in Israel or contain Israeli visa stamps. If you’re planning a trip to the Middle East that includes both Israel and Arab countries, consider making Israel the last stop on your itinerary.
Russia has extremely complicated visa regulations, and the Russian government doesn’t recognize the U.S. embassy’s right to intervene on behalf of travelers who run afoul of them. Research before you go. However, if you’re traveling by cruise ship and will not be staying in Russia for more than 72 hours, regulations are simpler and more relaxed.
The information in this post applies to U.S. citizens only. Citizens of other countries should consult their respective government agencies.
