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International Travel Planning

A step-by-step plan for any international trip: entry rules, passport validity, visas and travel authorisations, health advice, insurance, bookings and departure day. Entry rules depend on your nationality and destination, so confirm them on official sites.

Curated by Raaya · Last reviewed Oct 2026

Steps

  1. Check entry rules for your route

    3 days

    Entry rules depend on the passport you hold, where you are going, why you are going (tourism, business, study) and every country you transit through, even if you never leave the airport.

    For each country on your route, check three things: passport validity rules, whether you need a visa, e-visa or electronic travel authorisation, and any health requirements such as proof of yellow fever vaccination. Your own government's travel advice pages add safety warnings, local laws and embassy contacts.

    The IATA Travel Centre draws on the same database airlines use at check-in and is a good first check, but the destination's official immigration or embassy website has the final word.

    Tip: Save screenshots of the official rules with the date you checked them, because requirements can change between booking and departure.

    Passport
    Attach my documents

  2. Check passport validity and condition

    2 days

    Many countries require your passport to be valid for several months beyond your stay, often 6 months, but the rule is not universal: the Schengen area, for example, asks for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure. Some countries also require one or two blank pages, and airlines can refuse boarding if your passport does not meet the destination's rule.

    If you need a new passport, get it before applying for any visa or travel authorisation, because those are usually linked to a specific passport number. Renewal can take anywhere from days to several weeks depending on the country and the season.

    Tip: Check every traveller's passport, including children's, which often have shorter validity than adult passports.

    • Compare the expiry date with the destination's validity rule
    • Count blank visa pages if your destination stamps or affixes visas
    • Look for damage such as water marks, loose or torn pages
    • Check the name on bookings matches the passport exactly
    • Start a renewal now if the passport fails any of these checks
    • Dual nationals: decide which passport to travel on and use it consistently
    Passport
    Attach my documents

  3. See a travel health professional

    1 day

    WHO advises visiting a travel clinic preferably 4 to 8 weeks before departure, although advice is still useful closer to the date. Some vaccines need more than one dose or time to become effective.

    Ask about routine vaccinations, vaccines recommended or required for your destination, malaria prevention, food and water safety, and altitude or heat risks. Some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination on an International Certificate of Vaccination, especially if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk.

    If you take prescription medicines, check whether they are controlled at your destination; some common medicines are restricted, and you may need a doctor's letter or permit. Costs vary widely by country and by vaccine.

    Tip: Bring your vaccination record to the appointment so you are not given doses you already had.

    Where
    Doctor or travel health clinic · Bring your itinerary with dates, your vaccination record and a list of current medicines. Ask about required and recommended vaccines, malaria tablets and a letter for prescription medicines.
    Remind me

  4. Book flights and accommodation

    3 days

    Compare the total price, not the headline fare: checked baggage, seat selection, changes and cancellation rules often differ more than the base price. Make sure every name is spelled exactly as in the passport.

    If you combine separate tickets, the second airline usually has no obligation to help if the first flight is late, so leave generous connection times. Some countries ask for proof of onward or return travel and accommodation at the border, so keep confirmations handy.

    Paying by credit card can give extra protection against a failed booking in some countries. Check the accommodation's cancellation deadline and whether local taxes are included.

    Tip: If you still need a visa, choose refundable or changeable options until it is approved.

  5. Apply for a visa or travel authorisation

    14 days

    If a visa is needed, apply as early as allowed; processing ranges from days to several weeks and some consulates require an appointment for fingerprints. A Schengen short-stay visa can be requested from 6 months to 15 days before travel, with standard processing of 15 days.

    Many visa-exempt travellers need an electronic authorisation instead. The US asks for an approved ESTA no later than 72 hours before departure. The UK ETA usually gets a decision within 3 working days. The EU's ETIAS had been announced but had not started as of October 2026, so check the official EU site for the launch date. The EU Entry/Exit System registers non-EU short-stay travellers' fingerprints and facial image at Schengen borders, so allow extra time at your first crossing.

    Apply only on official government sites; look-alike sites charge extra and some are scams.

    Tip: Type your passport number exactly as printed; one wrong character can make the authorisation invalid.

    Passport
    Attach my documents

  6. Choose travel insurance

    2 days

    Buy insurance soon after booking so cancellation cover starts early. Your home health insurance or public healthcare often does not pay abroad, and emergency treatment or a medical flight home can be very expensive.

    Some visas require it: Schengen visa applicants must hold medical insurance covering emergency care, hospitalisation and repatriation. In the EU, the European Health Insurance Card gives access to state healthcare in other member countries but is not a substitute for travel insurance.

    Tip: Declare every pre-existing medical condition; an undeclared condition can void the whole claim.

    • Medical treatment and hospital cover with a high limit
    • Emergency evacuation and repatriation
    • Pre-existing conditions declared and accepted
    • Planned activities covered, such as skiing or diving
    • Trip length within the policy's maximum
    • Cancellation, delay and baggage cover
    • Exclusions, including places your government advises against visiting
    • 24-hour emergency assistance number saved in your phone

  7. Organise documents and make copies

    2 days

    Collect everything in one folder: passport, visa or authorisation approval, insurance policy with the emergency number, flight and accommodation confirmations, vaccination certificate if required, and driving licence. Some countries require an International Driving Permit alongside your licence if you plan to drive.

    Store digital copies securely in this app or another protected place, and keep paper copies separately from the originals. Share your itinerary and copies with someone at home. If your government runs a traveller registration service, register so the embassy can contact you in an emergency.

    Tip: Photograph the passport photo page and the visa page; they speed up a replacement if the passport is lost.

    Passport
    Attach my documents

  8. Sort money, phone and practical details

    5 days

    Check what your bank charges for card payments and cash withdrawals abroad, and carry at least two ways to pay plus a little local currency for arrival. Plan mobile data through roaming, a local SIM or an eSIM.

    Check your airline's baggage and liquids rules and the customs limits at your destination. Keep medicines in original packaging in your hand luggage with a copy of the prescription.

    Tip: Download offline maps and write down the local emergency number before you go.

    • Check card fees abroad and tell your bank if it asks for travel notices
    • Get a small amount of local currency or confirm cash is easy to withdraw
    • Set up roaming, a local SIM or an eSIM
    • Pack a plug adaptor suitable for the destination
    • Pack medicines in original packaging with prescriptions
    • Check baggage allowance, liquids rules and customs limits
    • Arrange care for home, pets and mail
    • Download offline maps, tickets and emergency numbers

  9. Check in online and recheck travel advice

    1 day

    Online check-in usually opens 24 to 48 hours before departure, depending on the airline. You may be asked for passport details and a destination address as advance passenger information; enter them exactly.

    Recheck the official entry rules and your government's travel advice, confirm your flight times, and complete any online arrival card or customs form the destination requires. Save the boarding pass to your phone and keep a printed copy if your airline or airport recommends it.

    Tip: If check-in flags a document problem, call the airline before going to the airport.

    Passport
    Attach my documents

  10. Travel to the airport

    1 day

    Follow your airline's advice on arrival time; for international flights it is often around 3 hours before departure, and bag-drop desks close earlier than boarding. Allow for traffic, parking and longer queues at peak times.

    Keep your passport, boarding pass, phone, wallet and medicines in your hand luggage, and keep liquids within the security limits of the departure airport.

    Tip: Check the terminal before you leave home; airlines sometimes move between terminals.

  11. Departure day final check

    1 day

    Before you lock the door, confirm the essentials: passport, visa or authorisation, boarding pass, phone and charger, payment cards, insurance details and medicines.

    Check the flight status once more, confirm your transfer at the destination, and make sure someone at home has your itinerary. On arrival, keep your accommodation address ready for the immigration officer.

    Tip: Keep the passport in the same pocket of your bag every time you use it so it is never left on a counter.

Documents you'll need

PassportNeeded for every booking, visa and border crossing. Many countries require several months of validity beyond your stay and blank pages, so check the destination's rule.

Official sources

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General guidance, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change; confirm with the official source before you act.

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