Missing paperwork is one of the most common — and most avoidable — reasons travellers get stuck at check-in or immigration. Use this checklist to make sure your documents are in order well before departure day.
1. Valid Passport
Most countries require at least six months of validity remaining on your passport from your date of entry, plus a couple of blank visa pages. Check your expiry date the moment you start planning a trip.
2. Visa or Entry Permit
Depending on your nationality and destination, you may need a visa, an e-visa, or nothing more than a visa-on-arrival stamp. Confirm the exact requirement for your passport on the destination country’s official immigration website.
3. Return or Onward Ticket
Many countries require proof that you’ll leave before your visa or visa-free period expires. Immigration officers or airline staff may ask to see this at check-in.
4. Proof of Accommodation
A hotel booking confirmation or an invitation letter from a host is often requested at immigration, particularly for tourist visas.
5. Travel Insurance Certificate
Several countries, including most in the Schengen zone, legally require proof of travel medical insurance before they issue a visa or allow entry.
6. Proof of Funds
Bank statements or a sponsor letter may be requested to show you can support yourself during the trip, especially for tourist visa applications.
7. Vaccination Certificates
Some destinations require proof of specific vaccinations, such as yellow fever, before entry. Check current requirements on official government health advisories closer to your travel date.
8. International Driving Permit
If you plan to rent a car abroad, check whether your destination accepts your home licence or requires an International Driving Permit alongside it.
9. Copies of Everything
Keep both physical photocopies and digital scans of every document — passport, visa, insurance, tickets — stored separately from the originals in case anything is lost or stolen.
A Simple Pre-Departure Routine
A week before you fly, lay out every document on this list and check it against your specific destination’s requirements, since rules vary by country and change periodically. A little diligence here prevents the kind of stress no one wants at an airport counter.