This article is about the travel document. For a gallery and links to articles about specific passports, see. For other uses, see. A passport is a, usually issued by a 's, that certifies the identity and of its holder primarily for the purpose of international travel.

Standard passports may contain information such as the holder's name, place and date of birth, photograph, signature, and other identifying information. Many countries are moving towards including biometric information in a embedded in the passport, making them and difficult to. There are currently over 120 jurisdictions issuing e-Passport. Previously issued passports usually remain valid until each expires. A passport holder is normally entitled to enter the country that issued the passport, though some people entitled to a passport may not be full citizens with. A passport does not of itself create any rights in the country being visited or obligate the issue country in any way, such as providing.

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Some passports attest to status as a or other official, entitled to rights and privileges such as. Many countries normally allow entry to holders of passports of other countries, sometimes requiring a also to be obtained, but this is not an automatic right. Many other additional conditions, such as not being likely to become a public charge for financial or other reasons, and the holder not having been, may apply.

Where a country does not another, or is in dispute with it, it may prohibit the use of their passport for travel to that other country, or may to holders of that other country's passports, and sometimes to others who have, for example, visited the other country. Some countries and international organisations issue which are not standard passports, but enable the holder to travel internationally to countries that recognise the documents. For example, persons are not normally issued a national passport, but may be able to obtain a or the earlier ' which enables them to travel to countries which recognise the document, and sometimes to return to the issuing country.

Passports are often requested in other circumstances to confirm identification such as checking in to a hotel or when changing money to a local currency. An passport (passavant) issued to subject dated July 24th, 1900.

One of the earliest known references to paperwork that served in a role similar to that of a passport is found in the., dating from approximately 450 BC, states that Nehemiah, an official serving King, asked permission to travel to; the king granted leave and gave him a letter 'to the governors beyond the river' requesting safe passage for him as he traveled through their lands. In the medieval, a form of passport was the bara'a, a for taxes paid. Only people who paid their (for ) or (for ) taxes were permitted to travel to different regions of the Caliphate; thus, the bara'a receipt was a 'traveler's basic passport.' Sources show that the term 'passport' is from a medieval document that was required in order to pass through the gate (or 'porte') of a city wall or to pass through a territory. In, such documents were issued to travelers by local authorities, and generally contained a list of towns and cities the document holder was permitted to enter or pass through.

On the whole, documents were not required for travel to sea ports, which were considered, but documents were required to travel inland from sea ports. [ ] King is credited with having invented what some consider the first true passport, as a means of helping his subjects prove who they were in foreign lands. The earliest reference to these documents is found in a.

In 1540, granting travel documents in England became a role of the, and it was around this time that the term 'passport' was used. In 1794, issuing British passports became the job of the Office of the. The 1548 Imperial Diet of Augsburg required the public to hold imperial documents for travel, at the risk of permanent exile. A rapid expansion of and wealth in Europe beginning in the mid-nineteenth century led to large increases in the volume of international travel and a consequent unique dilution of the passport system for approximately thirty years prior to. The speed of trains, as well as the number of passengers that crossed multiple borders, made enforcement of passport laws difficult. The general reaction was the relaxation of passport requirements.

In the later part of the nineteenth century and up to World War I, passports were not required, on the whole, for travel within Europe, and crossing a border was a relatively straightforward procedure. Consequently, comparatively few people held passports. During World War I, European governments introduced border passport requirements for security reasons, and to control the emigration of people with useful skills. These controls remained in place after the war, becoming a standard, though controversial, procedure.

British tourists of the 1920s complained, especially about attached photographs and physical descriptions, which they considered led to a 'nasty dehumanization'. In 1920, the held a conference on passports, the.

Passport guidelines and a general booklet design resulted from the conference, which was followed up by conferences in 1926 and 1927. While the United Nations held a travel conference in 1963, no passport guidelines resulted from it. Passport standardization came about in 1980, under the auspices of the (ICAO). ICAO standards include those for. Such passports have an area where some of the information otherwise written in textual form is written as strings of alphanumeric characters, printed in a manner suitable for.

This enables border controllers and other law enforcement agents to process these passports more quickly, without having to input the information manually into a computer. ICAO publishes Doc 9303 Machine Readable Travel Documents, the technical standard for machine-readable passports.

A more recent standard is for. These contain to authenticate the identity of travellers. The passport's critical information is stored on a tiny computer chip, much like information stored on. Like some smartcards, the passport booklet design calls for an embedded contactless chip that is able to hold data to ensure the integrity of the passport and the biometric data. WW2 Spanish official passport issued in late 1944 and used during the last 6 months of the war by an official being sent to Berlin. Issuance [ ] Historically, legal authority to issue passports is founded on the exercise of each country's executive discretion (or Crown prerogative). Certain legal tenets follow, namely: first, passports are issued in the name of the state; second, no person has a legal right to be issued a passport; third, each country's government, in exercising its executive discretion, has complete and unfettered discretion to refuse to issue or to revoke a passport; and fourth, that the latter discretion is not subject to judicial review.

However, legal scholars including A.J. Arkelian have argued that evolutions in both the constitutional law of democratic countries and the international law applicable to all countries now render those historical tenets both obsolete and unlawful.

Under some circumstances some countries allow people to hold more than one passport document. This may apply, for example, to people who travel a lot on business, and may need to have, say, a passport to travel on while another is awaiting a visa for another country. The UK for example may issue a second passport if the applicant can show a need and supporting documentation, such as a letter from an employer. National conditions [ ] Many countries issue only one passport to each national (an exception is the Family Passport, see below under 'Types'). When passport holders apply for a new passport (commonly, due to expiration of an old passport or lack of blank pages), they may be required to surrender the old passport for invalidation. In some circumstances an expired passport is not required to be surrendered or invalidated (for example, if it contains an unexpired visa). Under the law of most countries, passports are government property, and may be limited or revoked at any time, usually on specified grounds, and possibly subject to judicial review.

In many countries, surrender of the passport is a condition of granting in lieu of imprisonment for a pending criminal trial. Each country sets its own conditions for the issue of passports. For example, requires applicants to be interviewed before a will be granted.

When applying for a passport or a national ID card, all Pakistanis are required to sign an oath declaring to be an impostor prophet and all to be non-Muslims. Some countries limit the issuance of passports, where incoming and outgoing international travels are highly regulated, such as, where general use passports are the privilege of a very small number of people trusted by the government. [ ] Other countries put requirements on some citizens in order to be granted passports, such as, where male citizens aged 18–30 years must prove that they have completed, or are exempt from, to be granted an unrestricted passport; otherwise a passport is issued valid only until the end of their 28th year, to ensure that they return to carry out military service.

Other countries with obligatory military service, such as Syria, have similar requirements. National status [ ] Passports contain a statement of the nationality of the holder. In most countries, only one class of nationality exists, and only one type of ordinary passport is issued. However, several types of exceptions exist: Multiple classes of nationality in a single country [ ] The has a number of due to its colonial history. As a result, the UK issues various passports which are similar in appearance but representative of different nationality statuses which, in turn, has caused foreign governments to subject holders of different to different entry requirements. Multiple types of passports, one nationality [ ] The (PRC) authorizes its of and to issue passports to their permanent residents with under the ' arrangement. Visa policies imposed by foreign authorities on Hong Kong and Macau permanent residents holding such passports are different from those holding ordinary passports of the People's Republic of China.

A (HKSAR passport) permits visa-free access to many more countries than ordinary. The three constituent countries of the have a common nationality. Is a member of the, but and are not.

Danish citizens residing in Greenland or Faroe Islands can choose between holding a and a Greenlandic or Faroese non-EU Danish passport. Special nationality class through investment [ ] In rare instances a nationality is available through investment. Some investors have been described in Tongan passports as 'a Tongan protected person', a status which does not necessarily carry with it the right of abode in Tonga. Passports without sovereign territory [ ] Several entities without a sovereign territory issue documents described as passports, most notably, the in Australia and the.

Such documents are not necessarily accepted for entry into a country. Validity [ ]. Maximum adult passport validity across the world Many countries require a remaining of no less than six months on arrival, as well as having at least two to four blank pages. Value [ ] One method to measure the 'value' of a passport is to calculate its 'visa-free score', which is the number of countries that allow the holder of that passport entry without requiring a visa.

The top 10 groups are as follows: • Germany (visa-free score: 161) • Singapore, Sweden (160) • Denmark, Finland, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom (159) • Luxembourg, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Norway (158) • Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, Ireland, United States of America, Canada (157) • Greece, Australia (156) • Malta, Czechia, Malaysia, New Zealand (155) • Iceland (154) • Hungary (153) • Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia (152) Types [ ]. This section needs additional citations for. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2014) () A rough standardization exists in types of passports throughout the world, although passport types, number of pages and definitions can vary by country. Full passports [ ] Left to right: diplomatic, official, and regular passport from. Each passport type has a different cover colour. • Passport (also called tourist passport or regular passport) – The most common form of passport, issued to citizens and other nationals.

Occasionally, children are registered within the parents' passport, making it equivalent to a family passport. [ ] • Official passport (also called service passport) – Issued to government employees for work-related travel, and their accompanying dependants. [ ] • Diplomatic passport – Issued to diplomats of a country and their accompanying dependents for official international travel and residence. Of certain grades may be granted by a host country, but this is not automatically conferred by holding a diplomatic passport. Any diplomatic privileges apply in the country to which the diplomat is accredited; elsewhere diplomatic passport holders must adhere to the same regulations and travel procedures as are required of other nationals of their country. [ ] • Emergency passport (also called temporary passport) – Issued to persons whose passports were lost or stolen, without time to obtain a replacement.

Are also used for this purpose. British Emergency Passport • Collective passport – Issued to defined groups for travel together to particular destinations, such as a group of school children on a school trip. • Family passport – Issued to an entire family. There is one passport holder, who may travel alone or with other family members included in the passport. A family member who is not the passport holder cannot use the passport for travel without the passport holder. [ ] Few countries now issue family passports; for example, all the countries and Canada require each child to have their own passport.

Non-citizen passports [ ] Latvia and Estonia [ ]. Further information: and Non-citizens in and Estonia are individuals, primarily of Russian or Ukrainian ethnicity, who are not citizens of Latvia or Estonia but whose families have resided in the area since the Soviet era, and thus have the right to a non-citizen passport issued by the Latvian government as well as other specific rights. Approximately two thirds of them are, followed by ethnic Belarusians, ethnic Ukrainians, ethnic Poles and ethnic Lithuanians. Non-citizens in the two countries are issued special non-citizen passports as opposed to regular passports issued by the Estonian and Latvian authorities to citizens. This practice has been described as xenophobic.

American Samoa [ ]. Main article: Although all U.S. Citizens are also U.S. Nationals, the reverse is not true. As specified in, a person whose only connection to the U.S. Is through birth in an outlying possession (which is defined in as and, the latter of which is administered as part of American Samoa), or through descent from a person so born, acquires U.S.

Nationality but not U.S. This was formerly the case in only four other current or former.

Passport issued to non-citizen nationals contains the endorsement code 9 which states: 'THE BEARER IS A UNITED STATES NATIONAL AND NOT A UNITED STATES CITIZEN.' On the annotations page.

Non-citizen U.S. Nationals may reside and work in the United States without restrictions, and may apply for citizenship under the same rules as resident aliens. Like resident aliens, they are, although, as with resident aliens, there is no constitutional prohibition against their doing so. United Kingdom [ ]. For (now defunct) • — Issued by national governments or international organizations (such as the ) as emergency passports, travel on humanitarian grounds, or for official travel. • — Issued by to police officers for official travel, allowing them to bypass certain visa restrictions in certain member states when investigating transnational crime.

• (also called alien's passport, or informally, a Travel Document) — Issued under certain circumstances, such as, to non-citizen residents. An example is the ' (pictured). Sometimes issued as an internal passport to non-residents. • — Issued to a refugee by the state in which she or he currently resides allowing them to travel outside that state and to return. Made necessary because refugees are unlikely to be able to obtain passports from their state of nationality. Many types of travel permit exist around the world. Some, like the and, allow residents of those countries who are unable to obtain a permit to travel outside the country and return.

Others, like the Special Passport, the, and the Taibaozheng (), are used for travel to and from specific countries or locations, for example to travel between and, or between and. • — Issued by the to Chinese citizens in lieu of a passport. • — a special passport used only for and pilgrimage to and. Intra-sovereign territory travel that requires passports [ ] For some countries, passports are required for some types of travel between their sovereign territories.

Two examples of this are: • Hong Kong and Macau, both Chinese special administrative regions (SARs), have their own immigration control systems different from each other and mainland China. Travelling between the three is technically not international, so residents of the three locations do not use passports to travel between the three places, instead using other documents, such as the (for the people of Hong Kong and Macau). Foreigners are required to present their passports with applicable visas at the immigration control points. [ ] • Malaysia, where an arrangement was agreed upon during the formation of the country, the states of and were allowed to retain their respective immigration control systems. Therefore, a passport is required for foreigners when travelling from to East Malaysia, as well as traveling between Sabah and Sarawak. For social/business visits not more than 3 months, Peninsular Malaysians are required to produce a or, for children below 12 years a, and obtain a special immigration printout form to be kept until departure.

However, one may present a or a Restricted Travel Document and get an entry stamp on the travel document to avoid the hassle of keeping an extra sheet of paper. For other purposes, Peninsular Malaysians are required to have a long-term residence permit along with a passport or a Restricted Travel Document.

•, one of, has its own immigration controls. Australian and New Zealand citizens travelling to the territory are required to carry a passport, or an, while people of other nationalities must also have a valid Australian visa and/or. Are issued by some countries as an. An example is the or certain other post-Soviet countries dating back to imperial times.

Some countries use internal passports for controlling migration within a country. Designs and format [ ] International Civil Aviation Organization standards [ ]. More than 5 million passports of the United Kingdom (also called the 'red book') are printed each year—one every 2.5 seconds—at this secret location in the North of England • A standard passport booklet format includes the cover, which contains the name of the issuing country, a national symbol, a description of the document (e.g., passport, diplomatic passport), and a symbol, if applicable. Inside, there is a title page, also naming the country. A data page follows, containing information about the bearer and the issuing authority. There are blank pages for visas, and to stamp for entries and exit. Passports have numerical or alphanumerical designators (') assigned by the issuing authority.

• standards have been issued by the ICAO, with an area set aside where most of the information written as text is also printed in a manner suitable for. • (or e-Passports) have an embedded in order to conform to ICAO standards. These chips contain data about the passport bearer, a photographic portrait in digital format, and data about the passport itself. Many countries now issue biometric passports, in order to speed up clearance through immigration and the prevention of identity fraud. These reasons are disputed by privacy advocates. Common designs [ ].

A with the logo at the top • The member states of the (CARICOM) recently began issuing passports with a. It features the CARICOM symbol along with the national coat of arms and name of the member state, rendered in a CARICOM official language (English,, Dutch). The member states which use the common design are,,,,,,,,,,, and. There was a movement by the (OECS) to issue a common designed passport, but the implementation of the CARICOM passport made that redundant, and it was abandoned. Request page [ ].

Passport message found inside the Passports often contain a message, usually near the front, requesting that the passport's bearer be allowed to pass freely, and further requesting that, in the event of need, the bearer be granted assistance. The message is sometimes made in the name of the government or the head of state, and may be written in more than one language, depending on the language policies of the issuing authority. There are countries, such as, and, on whose passports such messages are absent. [ ] Languages [ ].

This section needs additional citations for. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2014) () In 1920, an international conference on passports and through tickets held by the recommended that passports be issued in, historically the language of diplomacy, and one other language.

Currently, the recommends that passports be issued in English and French, or in the national language of the issuing country and in either English or French. Many European countries use their national language, along with English and French. Some unusual language combinations are: • Passports of European Union states bear all of the official languages of the EU. Two or three languages are printed at the relevant points, followed by reference numbers which point to the passport page where translations into the remaining languages appear. In addition to the official EU languages, British passports bear and. • The and the are tri-lingual: English, French and Spanish.

United States passports were traditionally English and French, but began being printed with a Spanish message and labels during the late 1990s, in recognition of 's Spanish-speaking status. Only the message and labels are in multiple languages, the cover and instructions pages are printed solely in English. • In Belgium, all three official languages (Dutch, French, German) appear on the cover, in addition to English on the main page.

The order of the official languages depends on the official residence of the holder. • Passports of are in the three official languages (Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian), in addition to English. • contain four languages: Portuguese, the official country language, Spanish, in accordance with neighboring nations, English and French.

• are in Greek, Turkish and English. • The first page of a is in Arabic only. The last page (first page from western viewpoint) has an English equivalent of the information on the Arabic first page (western last page). Similar arrangements are found in passports of some other Arab countries. • are in Arabic, Kurdish and English.

• are in three languages: Chinese, Portuguese and English. • are in English and.

• are in the two forms of the Norwegian language, and, and in English. • are in, and English. • are in five languages: German, French, Italian, and English. • are in Arabic, English, and French. Immigration stamps [ ]. Main article: For immigration control, officials of many countries use entry and exit stamps.

Depending on the country, a stamp can serve different purposes. For example, in the United Kingdom, an immigration stamp in a passport includes the formal granted to a person subject to entry control. In other countries, a stamp activates or acknowledges the continuing leave conferred in the passport bearer's. Under the Schengen system, a foreign passport is stamped with a date stamp which does not indicate any duration of stay. This means that the person is deemed to have permission to remain either for three months or for the period shown on his visa (whichever is shorter). Visas often take the form of an inked stamp, although some countries use adhesive stickers that incorporate security features to discourage forgery.

Member states of the European Union are not permitted to place a stamp in the passport of a person who is not subject to immigration control. Stamping is prohibited because it is an imposition of a control that the person is not subject to. Countries usually have different styles of stamps for entries and exits, to make it easier to identify the movements of people.

Other ways to easily determine information. Ink color might be used to designate mode of transportation (air, land or sea), such as in Hong Kong prior to 1997; while border styles did the same thing in Macau. Other variations include changing the size of the stamp to indicate length of stay, as in Singapore.

Immigration stamps are a useful reminder of travels. Some travellers 'collect' immigration stamps in passports, and will choose to enter or exit countries via different means (for example, land, sea or air) in order to have different stamps in their passports. Some countries, such as Liechtenstein, that do not stamp passports may provide a passport stamp on request for such 'memory' purposes. However, such memorial stamps can preclude the passport bearer from travelling to certain countries.

For example, Finland consistently rejects what they call 'falsified passports', where travelers have been refused visas or entry due to memorial stamps and are required to renew their passports. Limitations on use [ ]. Main article: A passport is merely an identity document that is widely recognised for international travel purposes, and the possession of a passport does not in itself entitle a traveller to enter any country other than the country that issued it, and sometimes not even then. Many countries normally require visitors to obtain a visa. Each country has different requirements or conditions for the grant of visas, such as for the visitor not being likely to become a public charge for financial, health, family, or other reasons, and the holder not having been convicted of a crime or considered likely to commit one.

Where a country does not recognise another, or is in dispute with it, entry may be prohibited to holders of passports of the other party to the dispute, and sometimes to others who have, for example, visited the other country; examples are listed below. A country that issues a passport may also restrict its validity or use in specified circumstances, such as use for travel to certain countries for political, security or health reasons. Main articles:,,,,,,, and • Bangladesh — a is valid for travel to all countries except Israel. • and Taiwan — Nationals of Taiwan (ROC) use a special travel permit () issued by China's (PRC) to enter mainland China. Nationals of Mainland China entering Taiwan must also use a special travel permit () issued by the ROC's immigration department. Depending on where they're traveling from, they also need either a Chinese passport when departing from outside Mainland China, or a passport-like travel document, known as Taiwan Travel Permit for Mainland Residents, when departing from Mainland China (along with a special visa-like exit endorsement issued by PRC immigration authorities affixed to the permit). Chinese nationals who are Hong Kong and Macau permanent residents can apply for the ROC Exit and Entry Permit online or on arrival and must travel with their,.

• Hong Kong and Macau — A ' is required for Chinese citizens domiciled in Hong Kong and Macau to enter and exit mainland China. The and the cannot be used for travel to mainland China. Also, cannot be used by Chinese citizens who reside in Hong Kong as the PRC does not recognize dual nationality. Mainland China residents visiting Hong Kong or Macau are required to hold an (往来港澳通行证 or 双程证) issued by Mainland authorities, along with an endorsement (签注), on the Exit-entry Permit which needs to be applied each time (similar to a ) when visiting the SARs (except residents with in can apply for a multi-entry endorsement). Non-permanent residents of Macau who are not eligible for a passport may travel to Hong Kong on the Visit Permit to Hong Kong (澳門居民往來香港特別行政區旅行證) valid for 7 years, which allows holders to travel only to Hong Kong SAR during its validity.

Countries that reject passports from Israel and any other passports which contain Israeli stamps or visas Until 1952, were normally not valid for travel to Germany, as in the aftermath of it was considered improper for Israelis to visit Germany on any but official state business. Some Muslim and African countries do not permit entry to anyone using an Israeli passport. In addition, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen do not allow entry to people with evidence of travel to Israel, or whose passports have either a used or an unused Israeli visa. For this reason, Israel no longer issues visa stamps directly on passports, but on a slip of paper that serves as a substitute for a stamp on a travel document.

[ ] Some countries do not permit their passports to be used for travel to Israel. • Malaysia — a is valid to travel to all countries except Israel.

• Pakistan — a is valid for travel to all countries except Israel. • Philippines — between 2004 and mid-2011, could not be used for travel to Iraq due to the security threats in that country. • South Korea — the South Korean government has banned travel to,,, and for safety reasons. South Korea does not consider travel within the (between South Korean and North Korean administrations) to be international travel, as South Korea's constitution regards the entire Korean peninsula as its territory. South Koreans traveling to the in North Korea pass through the Highway Transit Office at,, where they present a plastic Visit Certificate (방문증명서) card issued by the South Korean, and an immigration-stamped Passage Certificate (개성공업지구 출입증) issued by the Industrial District Management Committee (개성공업지구 관리위원회).

Until 2008, South Koreans traveling to tourist areas in the North such as needed to carry a South Korean ID card for security reasons. Main articles:,,,, and • As a result of the between and, Azerbaijan refuses entry to holders of, as well as passport-holders of any other country if they are of Armenian descent. It also strictly refuses entry to foreigners in general whose passport shows evidence of entry into the self-proclaimed, immediately declaring them permanent. Conversely, Armenia does allow visa-free entry for holders of. • The (TRNC) issues passports, but only Turkey recognises its statehood. Are not accepted for entry into the via airports or sea ports, but are accepted at the designated green line crossing points. However, all are entitled by law to the issue of a, and since the opening of the border between the two sides, Cypriot and EU citizens can travel freely between them.

The United Kingdom, United States, France, Australia, Pakistan and Syria currently officially accept TRNC passports with the relevant visas. • Spain does not accept United Kingdom, alleging that the is not a competent authority for issuing. The word 'Gibraltar' now appears beneath the words 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland' on the covers of British passports issued in Gibraltar. • may be issued to people holding any of the various forms of, with holders identified as of 2014 as: (GBR), (GBD), (GBO), (GBS), (GBP), and (GBN).

Holders other than British citizens may not have the, and other countries may apply restrictions that do not apply to GBR holders. Oceania [ ] • Some countries do not accept, though they accept Tongan citizen passports. Tongan Protected Person passports are sold by the Government of Tonga to anyone who is not a Tongan national. A holder of a Tongan Protected Person passport is forbidden to enter or settle in Tonga.

Generally, those holders are refugees or stateless persons for some other reason. South America [ ]. Main article: • For countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations with, such as, and, diplomatic, official and work passports are not accepted, and visas are only granted to tourist or business visitors. In addition, except for Kosovo and Taiwan, these visas must be issued on a Brazilian “laissez-passer”, not on the country's passport. International travel without passports [ ] International travel is possible without passports in some circumstances.

Nonetheless, a document stating citizenship, such as a national identity card or an, is usually required. Africa [ ] • Members of the East African Community (composed of,,, and ) may issue an. East African passports are recognised by only the five members, and are only used for travel between or among those countries.

The requirements for eligibility are less rigorous than are the requirements for national passports used for other international travel. • The member states of the (ECOWAS) do not require passports for their citizens traveling within the community. National ID cards are sufficient. The member states are,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and. Asia [ ] • Passports are not needed by citizens of and to travel to each other's country, but some identification is required for border crossings. Additionally, Indians can travel in without a passport, while Bhutanese must travel with their citizenship identity cards. • Lebanon and Syria citizens do not require passports when traveling in either country if they are carrying ID cards.

• Travel between and some former Soviet republics, designated by membership in the, may be accomplished with a national identity document (e.g. An ) or passport. However, according to a statement made by President Putin in December 2012, Russia has plans to restrict travel without a passport only to citizens of the member states of the by 2015. After that date, citizens of other CIS states will need passports (although not visas) to visit Russia. • Citizens of the countries need only national ID cards (also referred to as civil ID cards) to cross the borders of council countries.

This also applies to anyone that has a residence permit in any of the GCC countries. • The 20 countries of the issue the, which allows visa-free entry into all participating countries. Europe [ ] • Travel with minimal travel documents is possible between the United Kingdom, the, the, and the Republic of Ireland, which together form the • The countries that apply the (, a subset of the ) do not implement passport controls between each other, unless exceptional circumstances occur. It is, however, mandatory to carry a passport, compliant national identity card or alien's resident permit. • A citizen of one of the 28 member states of the European Union or of Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Iceland and Switzerland may travel in and between these countries using a standard compliant rather than a. Not all EU/EEA member states issue standard compliant National Identity Cards, notably,,, and the.

• The allows Nordic citizens—citizens from Denmark (including the Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden to visit any of these countries without being in possession of identity documents (Greenland and Svalbard are excluded). This is an extension of the principle that Nordic citizens need no identity document in their own country. A means to prove identity when requested is recommended (e.g. Using a driver's license, which does not state citizenship), even in one's own country.

Joining the Schengen Area in 1997 has not changed these rules. • Albania accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from nationals of the EU, EFTA, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, the Republic of Macedonia, San Marino and Singapore. • Bosnia and Herzegovina accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from citizens of the EU, EFTA, Montenegro, Monaco, San Marino and Serbia.

• The Republic of Macedonia accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from nationals of the EU, EFTA, Albania, Montenegro and Serbia. • Montenegro accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from nationals of the EU, EFTA, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Monaco, the Republic of Macedonia, San Marino and Serbia. • Serbia accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from nationals of the EU, EFTA (except Liechtenstein), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and the Republic of Macedonia. • Citizens of Belgium, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and Ukraine are allowed to enter Turkey with a valid national ID card. • EU and Turkish citizens are allowed to enter the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with a valid ID card.

• EU and Turkish citizens are allowed to enter Georgia with a valid ID card. North America [ ]. A Card • countries issue a to their citizens, and as of June 2009, eligible nationals in participating countries will be permitted to use the CARICOM travel card which provides for intra-community travel without a passport. • There are several cards available to certain North American residents which allow passport free travel; generally only for land and sea border crossings: • The U.S. Passport card is an alternative to an ordinary U.S.

Passport booklet for land and sea travel within North America (Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda). Like the passport book, the passport card is issued only to U.S.

Citizens and non-citizen nationals. • The allows border crossing between the U.S. And Canada for U.S. Nationals and Canadian citizens. It can also be used for air travel as the only means of identification for U.S. Nationals and Canadian citizens. The card can also be used for entering the U.S.

From Mexico but not vice versa. • The allows passport-free entry into the U.S. From Mexico and Canada (but not vice versa) for U.S. Citizens and nationals as well as Canadian citizens. • The can be used for crossing between U.S.

And Canada, as well as entering U.S. From Mexico for U.S. And Canadian citizens.

Nationals may further enter the U.S. And Canada using an issued by the States of,, and (which qualify as compliant). Other documents that can be used to enter the U.S. Include: enhanced tribal cards; U.S.

Military ID cards plus military travel orders; U.S., when traveling on maritime business; tribal ID cards; Form I-872 American Indian card. • Canadian citizens may enter the U.S. And Canada via land or sea using an 'Enhanced' WHTI-compliant driver's license.

These are currently issued by,, and. If Canadians wish to enter the U.S. Via air, they must use a passport book or a Nexus card. • Canadian citizens may return to Canada using any proof of citizenship and identity, however those without an acceptable document will be questioned by a Border Services officer until their identity is established. • For travel to the French islands of directly from Canada, Canadians and foreign nationals holding Canadian identification documents are exempted from passport and visa requirements for stays of maximum duration of 3 months within a period of 6 months. Accepted documents include a driver's licence, citizenship card, permanent resident card and others.

Those without Canadian identifications are not exempt and must carry a passport. The separating and • Residents of nine coastal villages in are permitted to enter the 'Protected Zone' of the (part of, ) for traditional purposes.

This exemption from passport control is part of a treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea negotiated when PNG became independent from Australia in 1975. Vessels from other parts of Papua New Guinea and other countries attempting to cross into Australia or Australian waters are stopped by or the. South America [ ] • Many Central American and South American nationals can travel within their respective regional economic zones, such as and the, or on a bilateral basis (e.g., between Chile and Peru, between Brazil and Chile), without passports, presenting instead their national ID cards, or, for short stays, their voter-registration cards. In some cases this travel must be done overland rather than by air. There are plans to extend these rights to all of South America under a, and it already extends them (since 2006 ) to every South American country except Guyana and Suriname.

See also [ ] • • • Notes [ ]. 1 A) Includes,, and. 1 B) The Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey are not part of the European Union, but Manxmen and Channel Islanders are; the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey, and Manxmen and Channel Islanders themselves (unless they qualify and apply for recognition of a change in status), are however excluded from the benefits of the. 1 C) The Government of the United Kingdom also issue passports to British nationals who are not British citizens with the right of abode in the United Kingdom and who are also not otherwise citizens of the European Union. 2 Non-EU country that has open border with.

3 Russia is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The vast majority of its population (80%) lives in, therefore Russia as a whole is included as a European country here. 4 Turkey is a transcontinental country in the Middle East and Southeast Europe. Turkey has a small part of its territory (3%) in Southeast Europe called.

5 and (; ) are transcontinental countries. Both have a small part of their territories in the European part of the.

6 is a transcontinental country. Kazakhstan has a small part of its territories located west of the in Eastern Europe. 7 () and () are entirely in Southwest Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe. 8 is a transcontinental country in North Africa and Western Asia. Egypt has a small part of its territory in Western Asia called.

9 Partially recognized. 10 Not recognized by any other state. 11 12 The was a transcontinental country located in Eurasia. 2 Open border with. 3 Russia is a in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The vast majority of its population (80%) lives in, therefore Russia as a whole is included as a European country here. 4 Turkey is a transcontinental country in the Middle East and Southeast Europe.

Has a small part of its territory (3%) in called. 5 and (; ) are transcontinental countries. Both have a small part of their territories in the European part of the.

6 is a transcontinental country. Has a small part of its territories located west of the in Eastern Europe. 7 () and () are entirely in Southwest Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe. 8 is a transcontinental country in North Africa and the Middle East. Has a small part of its territory in the Middle East called. 9 Partially recognized.

2 Open border with. 3 Russia is a in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The majority of its population (80%) lives in, therefore Russia as a whole is included as a European country here. 4 Turkey is a transcontinental country in the and Southeast Europe. Has part of its territory (3%) in Southeast Europe called.

5 () and (; ) are transcontinental countries. Both have part of their territories in the European part of the. 6 is a transcontinental country. Has part of its territories located west of the in Eastern Europe. 7 and (; ) are entirely in Southwest Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe.

8 is a transcontinental country in North Africa and the Middle East. Has part of its territory in the Middle East called. 9 Part of the. 10 Partially recognized. 11 of the United States. 12 Part of Norway, not part of the, special open-border status under.

2 Open border with. 3 Russia is a in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The vast majority of its population (80%) lives in. 4 Turkey is a transcontinental country in the Middle East and Southeast Europe. Has a small part of its territory (3%) in called. 5 and (; ) are transcontinental countries. Both have a small part of their territories in the European part of the.

6 is a transcontinental country. Has a small part of its territories located west of the in Eastern Europe. 7 () and () are entirely in Southwest Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe. 8 is a transcontinental country in North Africa and the Middle East.

Has a small part of its territory in the Middle East called. 9 Partially recognized.

Location Flag Quick Facts Capital Government Parliamentary Democracy Currency Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD) Area 5,128 sq km Population 1,465,842 (July 2006 est.) Language English (official),,,, Religion Roman Catholic 29%, Hindu 24%, Anglican 11%, Muslim 6%, Presbyterian 3%, other 27% 115/60Hz (North American plug) +1-868 Internet TLD.tt UTC -4 Trinidad and Tobago is a nation consisting primarily of two just off the northeastern coast of. The country is the most industrialised and one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean. Overall, tourism is not a major industry (though the island of Tobago has proportionally more), leaving the islands replete with natural unspoiled beauty not found in most other Caribbean countries.

Understand [ ] The islands were first inhabited by Arawak and Carib people, who settled here from the South American mainland, and whose descendants make up a small minority of the population. Trinidad was discovered by Christopher Columbus, who claimed it for Spain.The Spaniards brought their diseases but the Arawaks and Caribs were not used to their diseases so some soon died out. Under Spanish rule, large numbers of French settlers established cocoa plantations in Trinidad and imported slaves to work them. The British seized the island in 1798, and abolished slavery. To make up for the labor shortage the government encouraged heavy immigration from countries such as Portugal, France, Germany, China, and most importantly India.

Trinidad was united with Tobago in the 1880's. Throughout the early 1900's the country welcomed thousands of mostly black immigrants from other Caribbean countries, as well as Venezuela and Colombia. Following World War II, TT was combined with various other British Caribbean countries into the West Indies Federation, but the different countries could not get along and the federation soon collapsed. TT eventually achieved complete independence on August 31, 1962. Throughout the sixties and seventies, the country prospered thanks to large deposits of oil and natural gas, becoming the wealthiest nation in the Caribbean. However, in the late eighties, oil prices dropped significantly, causing a major economic meltdown. Thousands of Trinidadians left the country at this time, in search of better opportunities elsewhere.

Throughout the 90's and 2000's the country recovered dramatically and it continues to improve today. To date there are still descendants of Caribs and Arawaks in Trinidad and Tobago. In Arima, the Carib community celebrate their feast every August. The country has a cosmopolitan society inhabited by many different peoples and cultures who live together in relative peace and harmony. The two islands have distinct personalities. Is the larger of the two, and is the location of most of the country's cities and activity. It is also the country's industrial centre, noted for petroleum and natural gas production, which make T&T one of the most prosperous countries in the Caribbean.

Is known for tourism, which is its main industry and is a popular tourist destination. Both islands have a share of natural beauty.

Climate [ ] Trinidad and Tobago, well within the tropics, both enjoy a generally pleasant maritime tropical climate influenced by the northeast trade winds. In Trinidad the annual mean temperature is 18 °C (68.8 °F), and the average maximum temperature is 34 °C (93.2 °F).

The humidity is high, particularly during the rainy season, when it averages 85 to 87%. The island receives an average of 2,110 millimeters (83.1 in) of rainfall per year, usually concentrated in the months of June through December, when brief, intense showers frequently occur. Precipitation is highest in the Northern Range, which may receive as much as 3,810 millimeters (150 in). During the dry season, drought plagues the island's central interior.

Tobago's climate is similar to Trinidad's but slightly cooler. Its rainy season extends from June to December; the annual rainfall is 2,500 millimeters (98.4 in).

The islands lie outside the hurricane belt; despite this, Hurricane Flora damaged Tobago in 1963, and Tropical Storm Alma hit Trinidad in 1974, causing damage before obtaining full strength. How To Install Mplayer On Wii Homebrew Gamecube there. Terrain [ ] Trinidad is traversed by three distinct mountain ranges. The Northern Range, an outlier of the Andes Mountains of Venezuela, consists of rugged hills that parallel the coast. This range rises into two peaks.

The highest, El Cerro del Aripo, is 940 meters (3,084 ft) high; the other, El Tucuche, reaches 936 meters. The Central Range extends diagonally across the island and is a low-lying range. The Caroni Plain, extends southward, separating the Northern Range and Central Range. The Southern Range consists of a broken line of hills with a maximum elevation of 305 meters (1,001 ft).

There are numerous rivers and streams on the island of Trinidad; the most significant are the Ortoire River, and Caroni River. Tobago is mountainous and dominated by the Main Ridge, which is 29 kilometers long with elevations up to 640 meters. There are deep, fertile valleys running north and south of the Main Ridge. The southwestern tip of the island has a coral platform. Although Tobago is volcanic in origin, there are no active volcanoes.

There are numerous rivers and streams, but flooding and erosion are less severe than in Trinidad. Blanchisseuse Beach, Trinidad. Popular beaches in Trinidad are Maracas, Tyrico, Las Cuevas, Toco, Mayaro, Chagville, Los Iros and Quinam. Most of the beaches on the North coast are beautiful, with powdery sand and clear blue water. Los Iros and Quinam are okay, however Quinam's water may be brown, largely due to sediment from the orinoco river in South America.

Although Maracas and Tyrico are not too far apart, you cannot walk from one to the other along the beach. Popular beaches in Tobago include Pigeon Point, Store Bay, MT Irvine, Bucco, Grange, Englishman's Bay, Canoe Bay. Tobago's beaches are extremely beautiful. You can get a bus to Maracas Beach for $4TTD. Get this from the PTSC terminal on South Quay Road.

Make sure to purchase a return ticket as there're no ticket vendors at the beach. This bus leaves every 4.5 hrs from 4am until 5pm. Buccoo Reef and the nylon pool (Tobago) [ ] Buccoo Reef is a natural coral reef on the North Coast of Tobago.

The reef is not in pristine condition due to years of abuse and neglect. Please refuse any offers of shoes for walking on the coral as this will destroy what is left of the reef. Glass Bottom Boat tours are available from Pigeon Point and Store Bay. The nylon pool is an area of shallow water on top of the reef. The water is crystal clear and looks like fishing line nylon, hence the name. A glass bottom boat tour will take you there and allow you to bathe.

Caroni Bird Sanctuary [ ] Located in the Caroni Swamp, this is a must for bird watchers. Several indigenous species of bird nest in the bird sanctuary, including one of the national birds - the Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber). Tours generally take place during dusk as the Scarlet Ibis returns to the swamp to roost. It is also a good idea to wear thick clothing(jeans and a jacket/sweater) as the mosquitoes in the bird sanctuary are especially vicious and are capable of biting through the thickest of clothing.

Divali and the Divali Nagar [ ] The Hindu festival of lights, Divali, is celebrated in most areas in Trinidad and a few areas in Tobago. Every year during one night in October-November small oil lamps called deyas are lit on the inside and outside of homes and in public places. Additionally, there is a celebration and festival called the Divali Nagar, where Indian song, dance, plays and other cultural items are on display. The Divali Nagar takes place at the Divali Nagar Site in Chaguanas, Trinidad.

Many corporate sponsors set up booths and there is even an open air Indian restaurant where one can purchase Indian food including roti. Divali is a public holiday in Trinidad and Tobago.

Emperor Valley Zoo (Port of Spain) and the Botanical Gardens [ ] Trinidad and Tobago's only zoo features a wide variety of animal species including birds, fish, lions, primates, snakes and other reptiles. It is in the capital, Port of Spain. The Botanical Gardens contains many species of plants and is right next to the zoo, close to the President's house. The gardens are a perfectly picturesque picnic spot, despite the sparse amenities. Fort George (Tobago) [ ] Tobago's Fort George offers a glimpse into Tobago's colonial history and beautiful views of the ocean. Goat races (Tobago) [ ] Goat racing in Tobago on Easter Tuesday is a tradition dating back to 1925.

Amazingly, it shares many similarities to horse racing, where there are owners, stables and trainers. TTPBA Great Race [ ] During the month of August (mainly in second or last weekend of August) there is an annual power boat race from Trinidad to Tobago called the Great Race. It starts at Pier 1 in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and ends at Store Bay in Tobago. There are places to see the boats racing live (such as Maracas Bay). The boats typically travel around the North West peninsula, then along the north coast then make a bee line to Tobago. The first finishers typically finish in an hour. Jazz Festival (Tobago) [ ] This festival of music occurs in Tobago at the end of April and though is a recent addition to the calendar, has fast become a favored event, which means difficulty to book any last minute flights or rooms in Tobago around that time.

La Brea Pitch Lake [ ] The La Brea Pitch Lake is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt. However, commercial excavation of asphalt has slowed down considerably, since other more cost effective materials are available for road construction. The pitch lake is now primarily a tourist destination. Many go to bathe in its waters, which contain sulphur, which some say has healing properties. Leatherback turtles on Matura Beach [ ] The Leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) can be seen on Trinidad's Matura beach. Every year around Easter, the turtles return to Trinidad to lay their eggs. Tours are available from conservation groups.

Volunteer opportunities are also available. Since the turtles are an endangered species, it is illegal to kill the turtles or the eggs, therefore care and caution should be exercised so as not to disturb the turtles. North coast (Toco/Matelot/Grand Riviere) [ ] The North coast of Trinidad is beautiful and largely unspoiled. There are a lot of scenic beaches and undeveloped areas. At the North East tip of the island is the village of Toco. The North East trade wind blows literally 24 hours per day and lounging on the beach can be quite relaxing.

Tobago heritage festival [ ] Every year during the last week in July and first week in August, the Tobago heritage festival takes place. It is a two week long show of Tobagonian dance, music, story telling, culture and food. It is a showpiece into Tobago's long held traditions and a unique glimpse into the island's way of life. Do [ ] [ ] Pre-Lenten Carnival [ ] The annual festival of Carnival is one of the most famous things about Trinidad and Tobago.There are many beautiful dances and a lot of celebrating around this time. Every year on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, thousands of costumed revellers parade on the streets in an annual street party dubbed 'The Greatest Show On Earth.' They are accompanied by music from steel bands, with calypso and soca music played on large loudspeakers carried on large trucks.

In the build-up to the two day Carnival celebration there are other activities including Calypso tents (indoor calypso concerts), the 'Panorama' steelband competition, Soca monarch, Chutney Soca monarch, as well as open air parties called fetes. Carnival Monday and Tuesday are not official public holidays, but many businesses and all schools close for those two days anyway. Carnival derives from the French traditions which were adopted by African slaves.

Carnival is both a 'See' and 'Do' activity. One can just stand at the side of the road and watch the parade of the bands, or actually participate and 'play mas.'

Many tourists participate in Carnival bands. Booking well in advance is a must as the spaces fill up quickly. Getting in shape is also a must as many costumes are very skimpy. In fact some locals' physical fitness goals are centered around Carnival.

Nightlife [ ] There are quite a few nightclubs in Trinidad and Tobago, especially in the Chaguaramas area. Pier 1, Anchorage, Base, MoBS2 to name a few. Some very popular night clubs are Club Zen and 51 Degrees Lounge in Port of Spain and Sting nightclub in La Romaine, as well as Space la Nouba and Prive, both also in La Romaine. Also the popular Rising Star on Rushworth street. However, due to the crime situation, caution is advised and it is a good idea to be with a group rather than by yourself.

Golf [ ] One can play golf at several golf courses throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Some courses are 9 holes and others are 18 holes. Two popular golf courses are the St. Andrews' Golf course in Maraval (just outside of Port of Spain) and the Mt. Irvine Golf Course in Tobago.

Zip-lining [ ] This may not be as spectacular as in other parts of the world, nevertheless this activity is possible in Trinidad at Chaguaramas (West of, Trinidad) and also at Arouca. Talk [ ] English is the official language. Words are spelled with British spellings (e.g. Colour, labour, tyre, etc.). English is spoken with a strong accent in Trinidad and Tobago, so it can take some getting used to understanding the locals.

English Creole (though it's not referred to by locals by that name) is very frequently used for informal communication among locals. It's mostly an oral language, and is seldom written (and then just by ad-lib). A Trinidadian Dictionary, 'Cote Ci Cote La' can be found at one of the many bookstores in the country and is an excellent souvenir to remember your vacation to Trinidad and Tobago. Here's an example of just one of those many words that have radically different meanings from American English: liming; meaning to hang out in public with your friends Also, Hindi, French (mostly Creole or Patois), Spanish, and Chinese are occasionally heard. It may seem, at times, you are in a country that only speaks a foreign language. However, since virtually everyone knows standard (British) English, there's no need to ask.

Of course, if someone does suddenly start talking in standard English -- take notice. They may very well be talking to you!

Buy [ ] [ ] The currency on Trinidad and Tobago is the Trinidad and Tobago dollar, also known as the TT (pronounced teetee). US dollars are also widely accepted. Visa and Mastercard credit cards are accepted at many stores. American Express, Diners' Club, Discover, JCB and others are only accepted in a few places. ATM (ABM) cards using Cirrus and Plus networks will work in local ATMs and will allow you to make withdrawals in TT dollars converted to your home currency. The exchange rate when withdrawing from the ATM is slightly better than when exchanging cash. There are also ATMs in a few places such as shopping malls that will dispense US dollars.

Be advised that Trinidad and Tobago ATMs do not accept PINs longer than four digits. Consider changing it to four digits before you travel. As of December 2011, Republic Bank ATMs (Blue Machines) accept six-digit PINs.

Prices in shops and stores are generally displayed and do not change according to the customer. Outdoor vendors, however, are another story: they are likely to charge a different, higher price for a foreigner than for a local. A few will even suggest or demand payment in US dollars. You can try haggling, or just grin and bear it. Most items except necessities and certain other items that are zero rated attract Value Added Tax (VAT) at the rate of 15%.

The tax is collected at the time of sale. Weights and measures are officially in Metric, however it is not uncommon for imperial (English) units to still be used. Though the other units are the same, the imperial gallon is not the same as the U.S. Eat [ ] [ ] Due to its varied background, Trinidad and Tobago has excellent and varied food options. In particular, the Indian roots have added to some of the best foods of any country in the world. If you can't tolerate extremely hot and spicy food, be sure to let the cook or waiter know in advance.

Popular throughout T&T are tasty rotis, Indian flatbreads stuffed with Channa(chickpea curry), usually some meat, and other items (including green beans also known as bodi, pumpkin, and mangoes). There are several types of roti available in Trinidad-- sada, which is similar to pita or naan; dhalpouri, which is filled with ground yellow split peas; and buss up shut, a heartier bread, with a silken texture. Cheap breakfasts of sada roti and 'choka' - vegetables of all kinds are available for about TT$3-4. But the most popular fast snack is a 'doubles'. One Famous spot is 'GEORGE DOUBLES' located in Woodbrook outside the ever famous 'Brooklyn Bar'.

Doubles is curried chick peas enclosed in two pieces of fried bread, and served your choice of condiments. It is a roadside snack, available everywhere at about TT$2-$4. 'Ali's Doubles' is a chain that sells doubles.

There are a few locations around Trinidad, mostly in San Fernando. Phoulourie is another popular roadside snack. Phoulourie are small balls, made of fried ground chick peas and flour. It and other popular snack foods like roast corn, cow heel soup, aloo pies (fried potato pies) and saheena (spinach dipped in batter and fried), are often available from street vendors, especially around the Savannah. Trinidad and Tobago is also famous for its mouth watering callaloo-- a soup made from green leafy vegetables, similar to spinach or kale, sometimes with crab or pigtail added (vegetarians beware!) Callalloo is not the most appetizing of foods to look at, but it is certainly worth a try. Another must try in T&T is the famous Bake and Shark or Shark 'n Bake.

Most easily obtained along the north coast near, pieces of Shark are deep fried, served in cut fried bread called 'fried bake', and accompanied by various sauces, most popular of which is a puree of chadon (pronounced 'shadow') beni (a herb similar to cilantro.) Another popular food traditionally associated with beach limes is pelau, usually accompanied with coleslaw. Pelau, is not, however, available for purchase at the beach, although you may be able to find it in a creole restaurant. If you have a sweet tooth, there are many local sweets and candies to sample like Toolum, Tambran Ball, Guava Cheese, Sugar Cake, Paw Paw Ball, Benna Ball, Jub Jub, Kurma, Barfi, Ladoo, Peera. Many of these will be available on the 'lookout' on the way to Maracas Beach, and prepackaged in some supermarkets. A few American style fast food chains are available including KFC, Subway, Pizza Hut and Burger King. There are also a few franchised eat-in restaurants such as TGI Friday's and Ruby Tuesday.

There are a few local chains such as Royal Castle (chicken and chips), Chicken Unlimited. These local fried chicken chains have a different taste from American or European fried chicken chains. Pizza Boys and Mario's are two popular local Pizza chains.

The pizza is quite different from American or Italian pizza. Chinese food is available in many places from Chinese takeout stores. It is Cantonese style but the spices are uniquely Trinidadian. Then there is an excellent range of higher-end Middle-Eastern food at 'Joseph's' (specializes in Lebanese) and then the more everyday dine-in or take-out at Lawrence of Arabia in Shoppes of Maraval. Barbecued chicken is another popular Trinbagonian dish.

It is similar to American barbecue, but with local spices. There are roadside barbecue stands that sell a box of barbecued chicken (quarter) with fries, salad and garlic bread. One popular place is The Barbecue Hut which is an open air tent where patrons will buy barbecue to sit down and eat or take away. It is on the South Trunk Road in La Romaine, South Trinidad close to the Gulf City mall. Be aware that it is run by Muslims therefore no alcohol is allowed on the compound.

The condiments available in Trinbagonian restaurants are ketchup, plain mustard, garlic sauce, shadon-beni sauce (a cilantro-like herb), hot pepper and many more depending on location. Soy sauce is available in Chinese restaurants, along with an extremely hot Chinese style pepper sauce.

If taking hot pepper as a condiment, be warned! It is extremely hot!

You may see locals putting a lot of pepper on their food, but remember they have been eating it for years so they are accustomed to it. It is best to try a little and if you feel comfortable add more.

If in doubt, avoid it. Salt and black pepper are generally not available as in American restaurants. Local bakeries sell pastries such as beef and chicken pies and currant rolls. They also sell hops bread which are rolls made with white or whole wheat flour. Hops bread is best eaten hot and can be enjoyed with cheese or butter for a quick snack.

Grocery shopping [ ] Grocery stores sell a wide variety of packaged goods and produce. However, for really fresh produce, one can go to the market. Towns usually have a market day (or days) where sellers, usually local farmers, will bring their produce to sell. The Government publishes prices for produce, however one may be able to bargain to get a better price. Again, while weights and measures are officially in Metric, most sellers use imperial units. Drink [ ] [ ] Non-alcoholic [ ] The most refreshing drink on a hot sunny day is a large glass of a very cold delicious Mauby, a beverage made with the bark of the mauby tree and spices, such as anise and cinnamon.

It is very refreshing and cooling, but may be an acquired taste, since it has a bitter aftertaste. Cold soft jelly coconut water -- available along the roadsides -- costs about TT$8-10.

And do try all the many varied local fruit juices, readily available chilled in most groceries. Sorrel is a popular drink available during Christmas time.

It is made from the boiled flowers of the Roselle (hibiscus sabdariffa) plant. It is red in colour and best enjoyed cold. It also has nutritious benefits.

Soft drinks are sweetened with cane sugar, rather than high fructose corn syrup as is the common practice in North America. This gives soft drinks a different taste, which some argue is better.

Malta is a popular drink, made from malt and hops and available from local bars, restaurants and supermarkets. It is high calorie and full of B-vitamins, and best enjoyed ice cold. Alcoholic drinks [ ] Rum [ ] Being a former sugar cane colony, Trinidad and Tobago is famous for its Rum. Popular brands of Rum are Black Label and Vat 19 by Fernandes and White Oak, Old Oak by Angostura.

Some Bars will allow you to buy individual rum drinks either straight with or without a chaser, or mixed. Some bars will allow you to purchase a whole bottle of Rum, or a 'half' which is equivalent to half a bottle.

Some bars will sell a 'nip' which is less than half. One can also purchase bottles of Rum in stores and at duty free stores at the airport to carry home. Puncheon Rum is a stronger type of Rum (no less than 75% alcohol). It is not quite like moonshine but definitely stronger than regular Rum. In fact it may not be legal to take it back with you. However it is legal in Trinidad and Tobago and is available from many local bars. Beer [ ] Beer is available and quite popular.

The two most popular brands of beer are Carib and Stag, which are brewed locally. Additionally, some imported beer such as Miller is available. Other malt liquor drinks are available, brewed locally, such as Smirnoff Ice, and various stouts (Mackeson, Guinness Foreign Extra). There are no microbreweries in Trinidad, and beer-lovers may find the local beers not to their taste. However, a few bars do import a wider variety of beers. Of particular note is the All Out bar at the Queen's Park Oval cricket ground in Port of Spain (94 Tragarete Road), where you will find a reasonable selection of English ales on draft, sold by the pint. Wine and other spirits [ ] Wine, vodka, tequila and other spirits are usually imported.

There are no wineries in Trinidad and Tobago, as the tropical climate is not conducive to the growing of grapes. Many restaurants will serve a range of imported wines, however, and wine bars, such as More Vino in Woodbrook have opened in the past few years. Laws related to alcohol [ ] Not surprisingly, drinking alcohol in public is not frowned upon in Trinidad and Tobago.

It is legal to drink alcohol in public. Public drunkenness may get you arrested only if you engage in disorderly conduct. Also the legal drinking age is 18 yrs. However, during election day, sale of alcohol is prohibited and must not be overtly displayed. Sleep [ ] [ ] There are a wide variety of lodging options. There are major hotels such as Crowne Plaza, Hyatt, and the Hilton.

There are also smaller guest houses, particularly in Tobago and beach houses at the coasts (especially the East coast). On Trinidad, many cities and towns of limited interest to the typical tourist do not have any official accommodations. Staying with locals may be the only option.

However, Trinidad has developed a sporting and cultural infrastructure being multi-cultural with different religious denominations and can even boast of having world class facilities for swimming, cycling, football, cricket, netball and the arts. For persons or groups of persons willing to experience or connect with similar groups at competitive rates, guest houses such as The Little Inn and the Miracle Healing cater for these niches.

Learn [ ] • University of the West Indies St. Augustine campus • University of the Southern Caribbean. There is also the • University of Trinidad and Tobago • Other smaller colleges offer external degrees and diplomas from foreign institutions such as the University of London and City and Guilds of London. Be careful where you park. High end hotels like the Normandie has reported a drastic increase in vehicular break in. Recently one was reported while the secured car park was almost empty and two security guards were on duty. Work [ ] Tourist visas do not permit employment.

In order to work, one must obtain a work permit for the job and there must be no suitably qualified nationals to fill the job. In addition, to pay taxes, one needs to apply for a BIR file number (used like a social security number) and a PAYE number. One must file tax returns every year if taxes are owed, and pay those taxes. Stay safe [ ] Trinidad and Tobago has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Generally, it is best to travel with the sun. When it sets, make sure you are in a safe place with people you trust. This is more important in Trinidad than in Tobago.

In Port of Spain, areas east of Charlotte Street become increasingly unsafe (but this shouldn't be considered an absolute boundary -- on some east-west streets you can go a block or two further). Stay out of East Dry River, Belmont, and Laventille.

In previous years crime tended to peak in the Carnival (January-March) and around Christmas (October-December) seasons, but recently crime activity was year round, but this has now drastically decreased due to the new change in government. But it is still best to exercise some caution at night time, while in Trinidad and Tobago. For extended stays, register yourself at your country's nearest diplomatic mission. They can provide assistance to their citizens.

A listing of diplomatic missions in Trinidad and Tobago is available on the Trinidad and Tobago Government's website. In an emergency dial 999 from any telephone for the police. Driver Conexant Fusion 878a Windows 7 64 Bits there. Dial 990 for the fire department and 811 for an ambulance. These calls are free of charge from any telephone, including pay phones (no coins or cards required). For foreigners with countries that have reliable police emergency assistance, it should be noted that when dialing '999' in an emergency the police do not always answer the call or show up when assistance is needed. The islands are in an earthquake zone, though serious quakes are extremely rare.

Stay healthy [ ] The Tobago Tourist Board boasts that 'the wildlife in Tobago won't kill you', which is mostly true. The islands do have mosquitoes and isolated cases of have been reported. The tap water is generally safe to drink, though many visitors prefer bottled water because the public water often has a strong chlorine taste. Use your best judgement if in an area where homes collect rain water from the roof, but very few problems are reported. The adult HIV/AIDS prevalence at 3.0% or 1 in 33 adults, which is 5 times higher than the USA. The best advice is to use caution and use protection if engaging in sexual activity.

Condoms are available from pharmacies to help prevent the spread of AIDS and other STD's. If you need prescription medication, it is best to bring enough with you for the duration of your trip. There is no guarantee that what you need will be available. American OTC drugs are often available in many pharmacies, however, don't expect everything to be available. They may also be under different names whether American or European market names. Healthcare [ ] Public Healthcare is free to everyone in Trinidad and Tobago and is paid for by the Government and taxpayers. Healthcare services are offered on a walk-in basis.

There are a few major hospitals throughout the country as well as smaller health centers and clinics located regionally. These can be found on the Ministry of Health's website. The public health facilities are way below the standard of what can be found in developed countries. Industrial action (strikes and sickouts) by doctors and nurses happen from time to time, and some healthcare facilities are overcrowded and understaffed, with older equipment and medicines.

As an alternative there are also private healthcare facilities that offer healthcare services. Prices will vary and can be quite expensive. Private doctors are also available on an appointment basis. Public Ambulance services are available to everyone by dialing 990. This service is operated by the fire department. However these may prove to be unreliable since ambulances are limited and fire stations are often far away.

Private ambulance services are available. They are generally more reliable but are not free.

In an emergency it may be better to arrange one's own transportation to a healthcare facility.