Travel Documents Checklist Before Departure

Passport validity is not the same as expiry

Many countries require a passport to be valid for a period beyond your return date, commonly six months. A passport that expires two months after your trip can therefore still be refused, even though it has not expired.

Check the requirement for your destination and, if you are transiting, for the transit country as well.

Entry paperwork changes more often than you would think

Visas, electronic travel authorisations and arrival forms are updated regularly. Use official government sources for the destination rather than a travel forum, and check again a week before departure.

Some authorisations are approved instantly, others take days. Applying early costs nothing extra and removes the risk.

Name matching

The name on the ticket should match the passport. Small differences are sometimes tolerated and sometimes not, and it depends on the airline and the route.

If there is a mismatch, contact the airline as early as possible. Corrections made weeks ahead are usually straightforward, corrections at the airport frequently are not.

• Passport valid well beyond the return date
• Visa or travel authorisation confirmed
• Ticket name matches the passport
• Any required onward or return ticket proof
• Insurance details saved offline

Copies, offline and shared

Keep a photo of your passport page, tickets and insurance on your phone, plus a copy somewhere you can reach without your phone. Email them to yourself if nothing else.

Give a copy to someone at home. If a bag goes missing along with a wallet, that one habit shortens the recovery a lot.

Travelling with children or on someone else's booking

Children may need their own documents and, in some cases, additional consent paperwork when travelling with only one parent. Requirements differ by country.

If someone else booked your ticket, make sure you have the booking reference and the card details used are known to whoever needs them, since some airlines ask for the payment card at check in.