Before traveling to any foreign destination, it’s a good idea to research and understand visa requirements. Some countries require merely a passport for travel, but a visa is a stamp or sticker that is placed inside a passport that tells the traveler how many days he or she can remain in the country.

Some countries don’t require visas for some travelers. For example, and American can enter Great Britain or Croatia without a visa for visits of up to 90 days or less, but that same American may need a visa to enter Brazil. Do your homework. Look for the embassy or consulate of the country you wish to visit. They’ll inform you whether or not you need a visa.

Some visas may be obtained upon entry, such as travelers visiting Jordan, while others must obtain a visa before you’re allowed to enter the country by air, sea or land. Medical tourism destinations are growing in demand and scope, and travelers from around the world are taking advantage. Whether you’re an Iraqi citizen traveling for medical care for joint replacement at the Madras Joint Replacement Center in Chennai, India or you’re an American traveling to Brazil for the best in aesthetic plastic surgery at the Center of Plastic Surgery & Rehabilitation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, know what to expect in the form of proper and legal travel documents.

Whether you’re traveling abroad for medical care in bariatric obesity procedures or looking for the best in orthopedic care, know what’s required in the countries you’d like to visit in order to ensure a trouble-free and pleasant stay.