| So you're going on an international trip? How exciting! | | | | planned departure date. |
| However, international rules and regulations should be | | | | Depending on the type of visa, especially if your stay is |
| taken into account at all times. You will need at least a | | | | not a short one, there may be all kinds of additional |
| passport and a visa in order to travel internationally. | | | | requirements. For some countries you may have to |
| Ensure that you keep these documents safe at all | | | | prove that you have enough money available to |
| times. | | | | sustain yourself for the period that your visa is valid |
| Passports | | | | for. In some cases you may again be photographed |
| A passport is an internationally recognized travel | | | | and fingerprinted. |
| document that verifies your identity and your nationality. | | | | Keeping your documents safe |
| You need a valid passport to leave your country and | | | | You don't want to spend part of your holiday dealing |
| enter a foreign one... and to go back home! There are | | | | with administrative issues to arrange duplicate |
| countries that require your passport to be valid for at | | | | documentation, so it's a good idea to keep very careful |
| least six months or longer after your trip. | | | | tabs on your documents. This is true at home as well, |
| Additional rules and regulations govern travelling with | | | | as a lost passport is an inconvenience at best, and can |
| children in an attempt to prevent child abductions. In | | | | assist identity theft at worst. |
| some cases if one parent is travelling alone with his | | | | A couple of useful guidelines to keep your |
| her child, it may be necessary to have a notarized | | | | documentation safe: |
| letter of consent from the absent parent. | | | | Make copies and leave your certified copies in a |
| Visas | | | | safe place at home. Examples may be your bank, |
| A visa is issued by the country you are visiting, and | | | | family members, or a financial adviser. |
| shows that you have permission to visit, and for how | | | | Electronic copies of all documentation can also be |
| long you are allowed to stay in the host country. It can | | | | stored online - email a copy of all your documents to |
| either be a separate document or could be pasted into | | | | yourself if you are going somewhere where you will |
| your passport. Not all countries will require a visa from | | | | have access to the internet, to an email address you |
| you. This would depend on the agreements your home | | | | will have access to while traveling. |
| country may have in place with other countries to | | | | Keep your documentation on you as much as |
| allow travel between the two countries. | | | | possible. If you have to leave it at the hotel, ensure that |
| There is a time limit on most visas, but it may be | | | | it is kept in the hotel safe. If you are travelling with |
| possible to extend the period you are allowed to stay | | | | children, it is probably safer for the adult to keep their |
| in a country. In most cases, however, you may need to | | | | travel documentation safe. Keep it in a waterproof bag |
| leave the country and re-apply. In some cases a visa | | | | to protect it against spills and water. |
| is issued by the border control staff as you enter the | | | | Keep a copy in your checked-in baggage. |
| country, in others you have to apply for your visa at | | | | Check regularly that you still have your |
| your host country's embassy well in advance of your | | | | documentation. |