Preparation is essential when it comes to getting your team ready for international business travel in 2026. With evolving passport timelines and changing visa requirements, planning ahead could be the difference between unnecessary delays and a seamless trip. Being prepared can help create a smooth travel experience for everyone on your team, so they can focus more on building global relationships, and less on tedious paperwork.
From getting passports renewed early to confirming entry requirements and more, here’s everything you need to know about better preparing your team for international travel in 2026.
Get Passports Renewed Early
Passport processing times can vary, which is why it’s so important to check your team’s expiration dates right away. Knowing when everyone’s passport is set to expire can help give you an idea of when they need to be renewed. Many countries require that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates, so if you find that someone’s passport is set to expire before then, it’s best to get a renewal now. When in doubt, always have your team renew early so that they are ready for any important business trips in 2026.
Confirm Visa Requirements Ahead of Time
Many countries require travelers to obtain a visa in order to enter. This is why you should always review visa rules and requirements ahead of time so that you know what to expect. Your team members will most likely need to obtain a work or business visa when traveling internationally, and failing to do so could result in some significant issues. Verify requirements before any flights are booked, and get your team the necessary visas through a reputable company such as Swift well before departure day.
Make Sure Travelers Are Entering Countries Under the Correct Work Status
One of the most common reasons that business travelers could be denied entry is due to them traveling under the wrong work status. Depending on the purpose of travel, your team members may need a specific type of visa. Failing to get the correct travel visa could be a problem, and cause your travel plans to be delayed or cancelled. Ensure that you have a deep understanding of the duties and responsibilities that your team will have while traveling internationally for business, and apply for the correct visa to ensure success.
Avoid Costly Trip Cancellations Due to Documentation Issues
Ensuring that your team has the correct travel documentation while traveling for work is crucial. Failing to do so could result in costly trip cancellations. To avoid running into this issue, you should always double check each team member’s documentation and review that everything is valid and not expired. We recommend doing this far in advance so that you have some time to make any corrections or adjustments if needed. Being prepared is a major factor in ensuring that you aren’t losing money.
Confirm Entry Requirements Before Travel Is Approved
Entry requirements typically vary depending on which country you are visiting. However, it’s important to note that these entry requirements can change quickly, and you need to stay up to date on these changes throughout the year. Outdated information can put travelers at risk, and could even lead to having to cancel your team’s business trip altogether. Verify entry rules at the time of trip approval so that you know exactly what your team will need.
Create a Pre-Travel Checklist
A simple way to stay on top of things and confirm that your team is ready for international travel in 2026 is to create a pre-travel checklist. This can really help simplify the planning process, as you can refer to this checklist every time someone on your team is preparing for an upcoming work trip. Not only does this help create consistency, but it also removes any guesswork.
Be Aware of Travel Document Processing Times
One of the most important things that you can do to prepare your team for business travel is to be aware of travel document processing times. Processing times can frequently change, and can take longer depending on things such as the time of year. However, when you choose to work with an experienced company like Swift, you can feel confident knowing that we will do everything we can to ensure that your team has their travel documents in hand before their trip.
Obtain Your Business Travel Documents With Swift
Our knowledgeable team has years of experience helping business professionals obtain their essential travel documents. We would love to assist you and your team with any of your passport and visa needs, and can help you obtain your travel documents in a timely manner. Simply visit the Business Visas & Passports page of our website to get started. No matter where you’re going, we’ll get you there.
