An expired passport is always something you think of too late. Take 10 minutes, a few weeks before you leave, to go through your documents.
Your passport and its date
Many countries require a passport that’s still valid several months after your return date, often 3 or 6 months. Some also ask for blank pages. Check the country’s rule on its government’s official website or on your foreign ministry’s.
Visa or electronic authorisation
Even without a visa, some countries ask for an online authorisation before boarding, like the ESTA for the United States or the ETA for the United Kingdom. Apply on the official website, never on a middleman site that charges more.
Insurance and health
- Travel insurance: check what your bank card and your health insurance already cover abroad.
- Vaccines: some countries require them, others recommend them. A doctor or a vaccination centre will tell you what to do, ideally several weeks ahead.
- Medication: keep it in your hand luggage, with the prescription.
Driving there
In some countries, your licence alone isn’t enough and an international permit is required. Find out before you book a car.
Keep a copy
A photo of each document, stored separately, helps a lot if you lose something or it gets stolen.
With Travla
Passport, visa, insurance: your documents stay behind Face ID, and the numbers in your iPhone’s keychain. If you turn on reminders, Travla warns you 6, 3 and 1 months before they expire.
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