Travel Documents You Absolutely Need For Your Overseas Trip

I love waking up in a hostel, wondering "What city should I sleep in tonight?". But even for me, a spontaneous and flexible traveler, I will keep vouching 'til the cows come home about having your travel documents ready to go. 

For real, scrolling through a zillion emails trying to find that accommodation you forgot the name of, your travel insurance policy when you really need it, or your visa at the airport... it's frazzling and aggravating. 

Have your docs in one place, send a copy of them to your 'rents back home, heck, even have a hard copy of them. If you're now wondering what travel documents I'm waggin' on about, keep reading lads.

Passport 🛂 

Well duh. But it may not be as simple as fangin' it in your bum bag.

✨Validity✨ is the key word here. To get back into Aus, you'll need to have six months validity left on your passport. Eye roll, I know. So check that expiration date well in advance and renew it if necessary. 

You'll also wanna make sure it's in good nick as some countries will turn you away if it looks tattered. I didn't know that and had to fork out $600 for a new passport with express shipping as I was leaving a week later. Learn from my mistakes.

Visas 🇦🇺

Depending on your nationality, the country you're visiting, and how long you're staying, you may need a visa. Some can be bought on arrival, like in Egypt or Cambodia, but most can be bought online (and vary in price). It only takes a second so get it done in advance! 

Make sure you read up on your visa requirements and basically don't outstay your welcome. That'll be a sticky situation leaving the airport.

Travel Itinerary ✈️

This includes:

• Flight tickets, boarding passes, and details
• Accommodation reservations (and potentially how to get there from the train station/airport...etc)
• Planned activities and tours

Why is this important? Sure it's convenient for yourself to remind you where you're going next, but a lot of countries will require proof of either where you're staying or when you're leaving to allow entrance.

Travel insurance 😮‍💨

Murphy's law. If it can go wrong, it'll go wrong, so get your travel insurance. (Here's your go-to guide covering everything about travel insurance). Have a copy of your policy as well as the travel insurance provider details for fast access in case of an emergency whether that's a trip cancellation, lost belongings, or other unforeseen events. 

International driving permit 🚗

Obviously only relevant if you plan on driving, but even if you don't, it could be a good idea to get one just in case.

An international driving permit is just an official translation of your driver's license into multiple languages and is recognised in many countries as a valid form of identification. When hiring a car, they'll be looking out for one of these.

Vaccination requirements 💉

To enter some countries, some accommodations or events, they'll still be looking for your proof of vax. Just have it in your wallet, ready to go.

And there you have it! Go forth and conquer the world, travel documents at easy access. ❤️‍🔥