Updated September 8, 2018
As we come upon the beginning of a new year, this is a great time to do some checks and balances. This is especially important if you travel a lot outside of your home country. Take a look at your passport and make sure it’s up to date. The last thing you want is to find out you can’t board a plane because of a problem with your passport.
Check Your Passport
Has your passport expired? Or is it nearing the expiration date?
Just because it hasn’t expired doesn’t mean you have nothing to worry about. If you do lots of traveling to various countries, you’re already aware of the entry/exit requirements of each country. Some countries in Europe require you to have at least 3 months left on your passport before entering. Some countries in Asia require 6 months. Other countries like South Africa require a certain number of blank visa pages.
Each country has its own requirements. And you should research this ahead of time so you can make the necessary preparations before the next leg of your trip. You don’t want to be caught off guard and denied boarding 30 minutes before your plane leaves.
Other Requirements
Aside from the passport requirements, you might also want to research the length of time you’re allowed to stay in one country. Most are 90 days. Some require tourist visa’s while others do not. And some visa requirements are dependent upon how long you stay. It all depends on the country.
Be aware of any travel warnings to your destination country. Be sure your travel insurance is current and up to date. And keep those embassy phone numbers in a safe place.
So do yourself a favor. Do your research ahead of time. Make sure your passport has plenty of time and blank pages left. Check on visa requirements. Research your country. And make sure all your ducks are in a row so you can have a more enjoyable travel experience.
Here’s a helpful website that has a searchable database of all countries, their entry/exit requirements, as well as other useful information. [Just use the search tool on the left-hand side where it says “Learn about your destination”.]
Image by: usps.com
