/* eslint-disable */ // Passports & Documents — Plan > First Trip Abroad > Passports & Docs. // The whole document side of getting on a plane the first time: // applying, renewing, expediting, replacing, and not getting stuck at a border. const PD_META = { count: 28, newThisSeason: 6, authors: 4, topAge: "24 – 41", updated: "May 2026", }; // I — TWELVE PASSPORT TOPICS. // Each card is a real, hand-built leaf. Order is editorial: apply first, // renew second, then the speed paths, then the rare-but-vital edge cases. const PD_PLACES = [ { id: "apply-us", rank: 1, city: "Apply", country: "First US passport", region: "Apply", nights: "6–8 wk", budget: "$165", season: "Apply 3 mo before", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1623006772851-a8bcc2240a59?w=1600&q=80", coord: "FORM DS-11 · IN PERSON", tag: "Start here", why: "The first passport is the one that takes the longest, and the one you can't shortcut. In person, certified birth certificate, two photos, $165, six to eight weeks. Do it the month you start thinking about a trip — not the month you book one.", best: ["First passport", "DS-11", "In person"], href: "/en/visas-docs/passport/how-to-apply-us-passport" }, { id: "renew-us", rank: 2, city: "Renew", country: "By mail", region: "Renew", nights: "4–6 wk", budget: "$130", season: "Anytime", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1502920917128-1aa500764cbd?w=1200&q=80", coord: "FORM DS-82 · BY MAIL", tag: "Most-used", why: "If your last passport was issued after your 16th birthday and within the last 15 years, you renew by mail with DS-82. No appointment, no facility, no in-person fee. Send it tracked. Don't wait until inside three months from your trip.", best: ["Renewal", "By mail", "DS-82"], href: "/en/visas-docs/passport/how-to-renew-us-passport" }, { id: "fast", rank: 3, city: "Expedite", country: "2–3 weeks", region: "Speed", nights: "2–3 wk", budget: "+$60", season: "Trip in 5 weeks", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1503220317375-aaad61436b1b?w=1200&q=80", coord: "EXPEDITE · $60 ADD-ON", tag: null, why: "The official expedite is sixty dollars on top of the application fee and gets you the book in two to three weeks. Pay it. The marginal cost of the upgrade against a non-refundable flight is the cheapest insurance you'll buy this year.", best: ["Expedite", "+$60", "2–3 weeks"], href: "/en/visas-docs/passport/how-to-get-passport-fast" }, { id: "expired", rank: 4, city: "Expired", country: "Renew quickly", region: "Renew", nights: "2–4 wk", budget: "$190", season: "Trip in 6 weeks", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1452421822248-d4c2b47f0c81?w=1200&q=80", coord: "EXPIRED · DS-82", tag: null, why: "Expired in the last five years and issued as an adult? Still by mail, still DS-82, still fast. Older than that or issued as a minor and you're back to in-person. The five-year line is the one most travelers miss.", best: ["Expired", "Quick renew", "DS-82"], href: "/en/visas-docs/renew-an-expired-passport-quickly" }, { id: "same-day", rank: 5, city: "Same-day", country: "Emergency", region: "Speed", nights: "1 day", budget: "+$60", season: "Travel in 14 days", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1495063367240-ddc1ab07ca38?w=1200&q=80", coord: "PASSPORT AGENCY · APPT", tag: "Emergency", why: "True same-day exists, but only at a regional Passport Agency, only by appointment, and only with proof of international travel inside fourteen days. Call 1-877-487-2778 the second you know. Bring everything twice. Plan to lose a day.", best: ["Same-day", "Agency", "Proof of travel"], href: "/en/visas-docs/get-a-same-day-passport-in-an-emergency" }, { id: "extra-pages", rank: 6, city: "Extra pages", country: "What changed", region: "Edge cases", nights: "—", budget: "Renewal", season: "When pages run low", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1488646953014-85cb44e25828?w=1200&q=80", coord: "NO LONGER OFFERED · 2016", tag: null, why: "The State Department stopped adding pages in 2016. If you're running out, you renew — there's no insert. Frequent travelers should request the 52-page book at renewal (free, but you have to ask). Plan for it; don't be surprised by it.", best: ["Pages", "52-page book", "Renewal"], href: "/en/visas-docs/get-extra-pages-added-to-your-passport" }, { id: "second", rank: 7, city: "Second passport", country: "For frequent travelers", region: "Edge cases", nights: "4–6 wk", budget: "$130 + letter", season: "When you live on planes", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1569154941061-e231b4725ef1?w=1200&q=80", coord: "VALID 4 YEARS · LIMITED", tag: null, why: "If your visa applications hold your only passport hostage for weeks at a time, you can apply for a second one — valid for four years, with a written justification letter. It's not exotic. Travel-heavy consultants and journalists do this routinely.", best: ["Second book", "Justification", "Frequent flyer"], href: "/en/visas-docs/get-a-second-passport-for-frequent-travelers" }, { id: "emergency-passport", rank: 8, city: "Travel on emergency", country: "Limited validity", region: "Edge cases", nights: "Up to 1 yr", budget: "Embassy fee", season: "When the original is gone", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1559268950-2d7ceb2efa3a?w=1200&q=80", coord: "LIMITED VALIDITY", tag: null, why: "An emergency passport gets you home. It's not a normal passport — limited validity, often single-trip, and many countries won't honor it for entry. Treat it as a one-way ticket back to your own embassy or to the US, then renew immediately.", best: ["Emergency book", "One-way", "Replace at home"], href: "/en/visas-docs/travel-on-an-emergency-passport" }, { id: "stolen", rank: 9, city: "Stolen abroad", country: "What to do first", region: "Edge cases", nights: "2–10 days", budget: "Embassy fee", season: "Hour one", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1518709268805-4e9042af2176?w=1200&q=80", coord: "POLICE FIRST · EMBASSY SECOND", tag: "Worst-case", why: "Police report first — the embassy will ask. Then the nearest US embassy or consulate, with whatever ID you still have and a copy of the stolen passport (you did email yourself one, didn't you?). Two days if you're lucky, ten if you're not.", best: ["Stolen", "Embassy", "Police report"], href: "/en/on-the-ground/handle-a-stolen-passport-while-abroad" }, { id: "lost-abroad", rank: 10, city: "Lost abroad", country: "Replace at the embassy", region: "Edge cases", nights: "3–10 days", budget: "$165 + photos", season: "As soon as you notice", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1488628516919-1cccea0d11d6?w=1200&q=80", coord: "DS-11 + DS-64 ABROAD", tag: null, why: "Lost is administratively the same as stolen, minus the police report. Form DS-11 to apply, DS-64 to report the loss, two photos at a local shop, the embassy fee. The hard part is finding two passport-quality photos in a city you don't know.", best: ["Lost abroad", "DS-11 + DS-64", "Embassy"], href: "/en/visas-docs/passport/how-to-replace-lost-passport-abroad" }, { id: "dual", rank: 11, city: "Dual citizenship", country: "Which book to use", region: "Edge cases", nights: "—", budget: "—", season: "Always", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1452421822248-d4c2b47f0c81?w=1200&q=80", coord: "ENTER + EXIT MATCH", tag: null, why: "US law requires US citizens to enter and leave the United States on a US passport. Many other countries require the same of their citizens. The rule of thumb: enter and leave each country on its own book. The carrying-two-passports awkwardness is the price of the privilege.", best: ["Dual", "Two books", "Entry rules"], href: "/en/visas-docs/passport/how-to-travel-dual-citizenship" }, { id: "two-weeks", rank: 12, city: "Two weeks", country: "Fast-track renewal", region: "Speed", nights: "2 wk", budget: "+$60 + $19.53", season: "Trip in 3 weeks", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1502780402662-acc01917b478?w=1200&q=80", coord: "EXPEDITE + 1-DAY MAIL", tag: null, why: "The two-week renewal isn't a special program — it's expedite ($60) plus 1-day delivery in both directions ($19.53 each way) plus DS-82 by trackable mail. Add it up before you panic; the regional agency is the only path under two weeks.", best: ["Two weeks", "Expedite + 1-day", "DS-82"], href: "/en/visas-docs/passports/general/fast-track-passport-renewal" }, ]; // III — EIGHT DOCUMENT SITUATIONS BY CHARACTER. // Each one is a real situation a first-time international traveler hits. const PD_ITINS = [ { ref: "PD-201", days: "Africa", title: "Africa-bound,", em: "passport prep.", author: "Iris", price: "6 mo + 4 pages", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1547471080-7cc2caa01a7e?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Validity", "Pages", "Stamps"], href: "/en/visas-docs/passports/africa/prepare-passport-africa-travel" }, { ref: "PD-188", days: "Pages", title: "Pages,", em: "stamps, & space.", author: "Marcus", price: "Plan ahead", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1530789253388-582c481c54b0?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Visa stamps", "52-page", "Renewal"], href: "/en/visas-docs/passports/global/passport-pages-travel-stamps" }, { ref: "PD-212", days: "Couples", title: "Couples,", em: "matched docs.", author: "Nia", price: "Plan together", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1469371670807-013ccf25f16a?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Couples", "Matching dates", "Booking together"], href: "/en/visas-docs/passports/global/passports-couples-travel" }, { ref: "PD-097", days: "Name", title: "Married,", em: "name change & travel.", author: "Iris", price: "Match the ticket", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1519741347686-c1e0aadf4611?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Name change", "Marriage cert", "Booking"], href: "/en/visas-docs/passports/global/passports-married-name-change-travel" }, { ref: "PD-119", days: "USA", title: "Emergency,", em: "abroad & home.", author: "Juan", price: "Embassy fee", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1591084728795-1149f32d9866?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Emergency", "Embassy", "USA"], href: "/en/visas-docs/passports/usa/emergency-passport-abroad" }, { ref: "PD-091", days: "Notarize", title: "Apostilled,", em: "for the border.", author: "Marcus", price: "$20–$60 per doc", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1450101499163-c8848c66ca85?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Apostille", "Hague", "Birth cert"], href: "/en/visas-docs/passports/worldwide/apostille-documents-travel" }, { ref: "PD-105", days: "Customs", title: "Customs,", em: "fast lane.", author: "Nia", price: "Global Entry $120", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1436491865332-7a61a109cc05?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Global Entry", "Mobile Passport", "Customs"], href: "/en/visas-docs/passports/international/get-through-customs-fast" }, { ref: "PD-122", days: "On road", title: "On the road,", em: "renew without coming home.", author: "Marcus", price: "Embassy fees", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1488646953014-85cb44e25828?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Renew abroad", "Embassy", "Long-term"], href: "/en/visas-docs/passports/international/renew-passport-while-traveling" }, ]; // IV — THE MATRIX. Six common situations, six different decision rules. const PD_BY_STYLE = [ { len: "First passport (in person)", days: "6–8 wk", count: 12, examples: "DS-11 · birth cert · two photos · $165", price: "$165" }, { len: "Routine renewal (by mail)", days: "4–6 wk", count: 9, examples: "DS-82 · old book · two photos · trackable", price: "$130" }, { len: "Standard expedite", days: "2–3 wk", count: 6, examples: "Add $60 · mark expedite · use 1-day mail", price: "+$60" }, { len: "Two-week fast-track", days: "2 wk", count: 5, examples: "Expedite + $19.53 each-way 1-day mail", price: "+$99" }, { len: "Same-day (agency)", days: "1 day", count: 4, examples: "Proof of travel ≤14 days · appt · agency", price: "$165 + $60" }, { len: "Lost / stolen abroad", days: "3–10 d", count: 7, examples: "Police report · embassy · DS-11 + DS-64", price: "Embassy fee" }, ]; // V — EIGHT READS, BY DEPTH. Every URL is unique across the page. const PD_READING = [ { tag: "Method", duration: "9 min", title: "How to get your first US passport,", em: " step by step.", author: "Iris", href: "/en/planning/documents/how-to-get-a-passport" }, { tag: "On the road", duration: "10 min", title: "How to renew a passport,", em: " from a country that isn't yours.", author: "Marcus", href: "/en/visas-docs/passports/global/renew-passport-abroad" }, { tag: "Trouble", duration: "8 min", title: "Stolen passport,", em: " the first 48 hours.", author: "Nia", href: "/en/planning/problems/how-to-handle-stolen-passport" }, { tag: "Trouble", duration: "9 min", title: "Lost passport,", em: " and the calm version of the morning after.", author: "Juan", href: "/en/on-the-ground/safety/how-to-handle-lost-passport" }, { tag: "Speed", duration: "10 min", title: "Expedited renewal,", em: " what the $60 actually buys.", author: "Iris", href: "/en/visas-docs/passports/global/expedited-passport-renewal-process" }, { tag: "Family", duration: "11 min", title: "Expedited renewal for the family,", em: " three books, one trip.", author: "Nia", href: "/en/visas-docs/passports/global/expedited-passport-renewal-family" }, { tag: "Business", duration: "10 min", title: "Business travel,", em: " the multi-country passport problem.", author: "Marcus", href: "/en/visas-docs/passports/global/business-passport-requirements-multiple-countries" }, { tag: "Field note", duration: "8 min", title: "Renewing a passport at the Seoul embassy,", em: " a Tuesday morning.", author: "Iris", href: "/en/plan/regional-hacks/south-korea/renew-passport-seoul-embassy" }, ]; // VIII — FAQ. Six questions, drawn from the seed and refined for first-time travelers. const PD_FAQS = [ { q: "When should I start the passport, if I'm hoping to travel this year?", a: "The day you start thinking about the trip. Not the day you book it. Standard processing is six to eight weeks, expedite is two to three, and that clock doesn't start until State has the application — not when you mail it, not when you book the appointment. The cheapest version of every passport story is the one where you started early." }, { q: "How long does my passport need to be valid for the trip?", a: "Six months past your return date, in most of the world. The US doesn't enforce that, but the country you're flying to does — and the airline will check at the gate. If your passport expires inside six months of when you'd come home, renew now. This is the single biggest first-time-traveler surprise at the boarding desk." }, { q: "Can I travel while my application is being processed?", a: "Not internationally. The acceptance facility keeps your supporting documents — birth certificate, ID — until the passport ships. You won't have proof of citizenship to leave the country with. If you have a domestic flight booked in that window, that's fine; international is not." }, { q: "Do I really need to apply in person? It seems like a lot.", a: "For your first passport, yes. Always. The in-person step exists so a federal acceptance agent can witness you sign Form DS-11 and verify the original of your birth certificate. There's no online or by-mail path for a first passport. After that, every renewal that qualifies for DS-82 is by mail." }, { q: "What's the actual difference between expedite and the same-day Passport Agency?", a: "Expedite is paperwork — sixty extra dollars, processed in two to three weeks at the same processing center. Same-day is a regional Passport Agency office, by appointment only, requiring documented proof of international travel inside fourteen days or a life-or-death emergency. Try expedite first; the agency is the lifeboat, not the ferry." }, { q: "What do I do if I lose my passport on day three of a trip?", a: "Call the nearest US embassy or consulate first — most have a duty officer 24/7. File a local police report if it was stolen. Bring whatever ID you still have, a copy of the lost passport (always travel with a paper copy in your bag and a photo on your phone), and a passport photo from a local shop. They can issue an emergency passport within a few business days. Replan the back half of the trip while you wait." }, ]; // VII — THE BRIEF. Six tips, ordered by how often a first-time international // traveler gets caught by the document side of the trip. const PD_PRACTICAL = [ { k: "Validity tip", h: "Six months past your return date, every time.", b: "The single biggest passport mistake first-time international travelers make: not realizing most countries require six months of validity past your return date. The US won't stop you from leaving on a passport that expires next month, but the airline and the destination will. Check the date the day you book the flight, not the week you fly." }, { k: "Timing tip", h: "Apply or renew the day you start thinking about a trip.", b: "Six to eight weeks of processing, plus the time it takes you to get an appointment, plus the time it takes the post to find you, plus the visa application that needs the new book — that's two months minimum. Apply when the trip is a maybe, not a confirmed booking. The book waits patiently; the trip won't." }, { k: "Speed tip", h: "Pay the $60 expedite. Always.", b: "On a non-refundable international flight, the marginal cost of the expedite is the cheapest insurance you'll buy this year. Sixty dollars buys you four to five weeks of margin. Even if you don't think you need it, you do. Mark the box. Move on." }, { k: "Lost-doc tip", h: "Carry one paper copy and one phone copy, separated.", b: "Print the photo page of your passport and your itinerary, fold them small, put them in the lining of your day bag — not the wallet pocket where the passport itself lives. Email yourself a photo of the same page. The embassy and the airline both ask for them when the original is gone, and both questions get easier to answer fast." }, { k: "Pages tip", h: "Ask for the 52-page book at renewal. It's free.", b: "Most travelers don't know State offers a 52-page passport book at no extra charge — you have to mark the box on the form. If your last passport ran out of stamp space in the last decade, the bigger book is a small kindness to your future self. State stopped adding pages mid-passport in 2016; renewal is the only path." }, { k: "Border tip", h: "Sign the passport. The first thing, before you fly.", b: "The unsigned passport is technically invalid. Most agents won't notice; the one who does will hold you up at a border in a country where you don't speak the language. Sign the inside cover with the same pen you sign checks with. Then check the photo page, the issue date, and the expiration. Then put it back in the envelope." }, ]; // THE DESK — same four people who carry the visas-docs lane. const PD_VOICES = [ { name: "Iris Mendoza", role: "Senior Editor · Visas & Docs Desk", trips: 64, line: "Documents are the part of travel that breaks first when you're new. The fix is boring and undramatic: do it earlier than you think you need to.", av: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1494790108377-be9c29b29330?w=200&q=80" }, { name: "Marcus Lin", role: "Field correspondent · Asia", trips: 48, line: "I have renewed a US passport from four different embassies. The Seoul one is the calmest, Bangkok is the busiest, Mexico City is the friendliest, and Cairo will teach you patience.", av: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1438761681033-6461ffad8d80?w=200&q=80" }, { name: "Nia Adebayo", role: "Field correspondent · Africa & Europe", trips: 39, line: "Six-months-past-return is the rule that catches half the first-time travelers I help. Not visas. Not vaccines. Validity. Always validity.", av: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1607746882042-944635dfe10e?w=200&q=80" }, ]; Object.assign(window, { PD_META, PD_PLACES, PD_ITINS, PD_BY_STYLE, PD_READING, PD_FAQS, PD_PRACTICAL, PD_VOICES });