Everything You Should Check Before Leaving the Country

Before traveling abroad, the costliest mistakes aren't forgetting your phone charger, but failing in four specific areas: expired or incomplete documents, unmet health requirements, lack of access to money at the destination, and not having travel medical insurance. This checklist covers those four areas specifically, not generically.

Review this list at least two weeks in advance for the health and document items, and a few days before for the money and insurance items, which are usually resolved faster.

Documents

• Passport valid for at least 6 months after the return date (a common requirement in many countries).
• Visa or entry permit if the destination requires one, verified through the country's official source.
• Physical and digital copy (photo or PDF in the cloud) of your passport and visa.
• International driving license if you plan to drive at the destination.
• Hotel reservation or invitation letter if the country requires it as part of immigration control.

Health

• Check whether the destination requires any mandatory vaccine (for example, yellow fever in certain African and South American countries) at least 10 days in advance.
• Bring your regular medications in their original packaging, with a prescription if it's a controlled medication.
• Write down your blood type and allergies on a physical card, useful in an emergency if you can't communicate.
• Confirm that your travel insurance covers the destination and the appropriate amount for the country.

Money

• Notify your bank that you'll be traveling, to avoid card blocks for 'suspicious use' abroad.
• Carry at least one backup card different from your main card, in case of blocking or loss.
• Exchange a small amount of local currency cash before arriving, for initial expenses.
• Check ATM withdrawal fees in the destination country.

Travel insurance

Confirm that your policy covers medical emergencies, hospitalization, repatriation, and, if applicable, the minimum amount required for a visa. Keep the policy number and 24-hour assistance phone number on your phone and on paper, not just in an email you might not be able to check without mobile data.

The last 48 hours before leaving

Check your flight status, print or download key documents without relying solely on internet access at your destination, and confirm you have offline access to your insurance certificate and medical assistance contact details.

Frequently Asked Questions

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