Travel Documents Checklist: Passport, Visa and Insurance
What to check before you travel abroad. This article is general information: always confirm the current rules with the official sources.
Most delays at the airport come from documents, not from luggage. A short checklist done a few weeks before departure avoids almost all of them.
Passport. Check the expiry date and the number of blank pages. Many countries ask that the passport remains valid for a minimum period after your arrival date, and the required period differs from one country to another, so check it for your destination and for any country you will transit through.
Visa and entry rules. Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality, your destination and the purpose and length of your stay. Rules change, so rely on the official website of the destination's embassy or consulate, or on the airline's travel documents guidance, rather than on what a friend did last year. Apply early, because processing times vary.
Tickets and bookings. Keep your flight and hotel confirmations on your phone and, if you like, on paper. Check that the names on the tickets match the passports exactly.
Insurance and health. Consider travel insurance that covers medical expenses and trip changes, and read what it includes. Some destinations ask for specific vaccinations or health certificates, so check this with the official health sources.
Finally, keep a copy of your passport and bookings separate from the originals, and save the phone numbers of your hotel and of our team. This article is general information and does not replace the official requirements of your destination.
General information only. Always confirm the current rules and requirements with the official sources, or contact us.
