Passport & Visa

Bloomington is just minutes from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), with downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul only 20 minutes away. Many area hotels offer complimentary shuttle service to both the airport and Mall of America, making transportation hassle-free. For those navigating the airport, the light rail transit (LRT) provides a convenient, free way to move between terminals.

Citizens of the Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the Kingdom of Brunei can visit the United States for up to 90 days without applying for a visa, as well as citizens of Andorra, Lichtenstein, Monaco and San Marino. Citizens of these countries must obtain an ESTA, Electronic System for Travel Authorization, before traveling. All other travelers must obtain a visa before visiting the United States. International travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the country.

With MSP Airport only minutes away, getting to Bloomington is easy no matter where you’re coming from. And if you’re driving, parking is free and directions are simple with Bloomington resting along major Minnesota interstates. Not driving? No problem. Hop on the light rail or bus to get you wherever you want to go between Bloomington and Minneapolis–St. Paul. It’s a map-free kind of travel — the best kind. By bike: Bloomington and the surrounding area is Minnesota’s prime location for cyclists. As Minneapolis continues to grow as the nation's most bike-friendly city, so do the surrounding areas. If you are looking for picturesque scenery, Bloomington is the place to be. With an active community and nature at its backdoor, there are endless opportunities to explore Bloomington’s bike trails. By bus: Bloomington and Minneapolis public transportation is available through Metro Transit. By light rail: The METRO Blue Line offers fast, quiet light rail service to 19 stations between downtown Minneapolis and Mall of America, including five stations at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, in Bloomington and at Mall of America itself. The new METRO Green Line connects Bloomington with St. Paul. Passengers will have to change trains at the Downtown East station from the Metro Transit Green Line to the Metro Transit Blue Line to get from St. Paul to Bloomington and Mall of America. Amtrak Train Service: The Amtrak train service travels a major East-West line running from Chicago to Seattle and Portland. The Amtrak train depot is located at 240 Kellogg Boulevard East, Union Depot, St. Paul, MN 55101. It's about 20 minutes from Bloomington.

Chain pharmacies — CVS Pharmacy, Walmart, Costco, etc. — as well as smaller neighborhood stores operate in Bloomington. While working hours may greatly vary, a few are open 24/7. Pharmacy signs are often in red and white, and they are often located inside department stores. Most of the pharmacies sell both prescription as well as over the counter medicine.

Sending parcels and letters in the US is a relatively straightforward process. The most common method is through the United States Postal Service (USPS). The USPS offers a variety of services for sending mail, including First-Class Mail for letters and postcards, Priority Mail for packages, and Priority Mail Express for overnight delivery. To send a parcel or letter, you will need to take it to a USPS post office or use a USPS blue collection box. Use the USPS website to find the nearest post office or collection box to your location. Additionally, you can also use private couriers such as FedEx and UPS, which often provide a wider range of services and faster delivery times, but generally at a higher cost.

Country code: +1 Area code for Bloomington: 952

All power sockets in the United States provide a standard voltage of 110–120V with a standard frequency of 60Hz. Plug type A has two flat parallel pins.