An international trip has more moving parts than a domestic one. There are documents with expiry dates, rules that change by country, money in another currency and a phone that may not work the moment you land. None of it is hard, but forgetting one item can cost a lot of time at the airport.
This checklist is organized by how far ahead each task should be done. Go through it once when the trip is booked, then come back to it in the final weeks. If you prefer to tick items off on your phone, every section works well as a checklist in the Tripyno app, where you can open it offline at the airport.
Two to three months before
This is the time for the slow tasks, the ones that depend on other people or institutions.
- Passport: check the expiry date. Many countries ask for several months of validity after entry, so renew it now if it is close to the limit.
- Visa or travel authorization: find out what your nationality needs for each country on the route, including countries where you only connect. Use the official government website of the destination, not third-party pages.
- Health: see if your destination recommends or requires vaccines and book an appointment with a health professional if needed. Some vaccines need weeks to take effect or more than one dose.
- Travel insurance: compare policies and check what they cover, such as medical care, cancellation and lost luggage. Some countries require proof of insurance at entry.
- Driving: if you plan to rent a car, check whether you need an international driving permit as well as your license.
Write down every requirement with a date next to it. A list with deadlines is much easier to follow than a vague feeling that "there is something about the visa".
One month before
With the bureaucracy on its way, focus on money, bookings and the plan for the days at the destination.
- Cards: check foreign transaction fees and withdrawal fees on your cards. If possible, travel with two cards from different banks or networks.
- Bank: register the trip in your bank app, if it offers that, so the card is not blocked for unusual activity.
- Bookings: confirm accommodation and book tours, restaurants and attractions that sell out. Save every confirmation on your phone.
- Itinerary: organize the days by area and check opening hours and local holidays.
- Budget: estimate the total cost and a daily amount for spending at the destination.
Two weeks before
- Phone and data: decide how you will have internet. A local SIM, an eSIM or a roaming plan all work, but compare prices and check that your phone is unlocked if you want a foreign SIM.
- Offline backup: download offline maps for the cities you will visit and save documents and bookings as files. Keep your itinerary in an app that works without connection, so you are not dependent on airport Wi-Fi. That is the idea behind an offline travel app.
- Copies of documents: take photos of your passport, visa, insurance and cards and store them in a safe place on your phone and with someone you trust at home.
- Emergency contacts: save the address and phone of your country's embassy or consulate at the destination, the insurance emergency number and a contact at home.
- Plug adapter: check the socket type and voltage at the destination and buy an adapter if needed.
The week before
- Packing list: write it now and buy what is missing. The packing list generator creates a first version based on the length of the trip, the weather and the type of travel, with passport, adapter and insurance already included for trips abroad.
- Weather: check the forecast and adjust the clothes.
- Currency: get a small amount of local cash for the first hours, enough for transport from the airport and a meal.
- Check-in: many airlines open online check-in a day or two before. Do it early to choose seats and check the baggage allowance.
- Customs rules: look at what you cannot bring into the destination, such as certain foods, plants or large amounts of cash, and what you need to declare.
The day before
- Confirm the flight time and terminal, and plan to arrive at the airport with enough time for an international departure.
- Charge the phone, the power bank and any other device.
- Put the passport, visa documents and cards in the bag you will carry on board.
- Check that medication is in its original packaging and in your hand luggage.
- Set an out-of-office message and turn on the travel mode of any service you use at work.
At home before you leave
The house is the part people forget when they are focused on the airport. A few minutes here avoid surprises on the way back.
- Empty the fridge of anything that will spoil.
- Unplug appliances that do not need to stay on.
- Ask someone you trust to keep a key and check on plants, pets or mail.
- Pay or schedule bills that fall due during the trip.
- Close windows and check the doors before you leave.
What to keep in your carry-on
Checked bags sometimes arrive late. Keep in the bag that stays with you everything that would make the first day difficult if it went missing:
- Passport, visa documents and printed or offline copies of the bookings
- Cards, some cash and your phone
- Medication, glasses or contact lenses
- Phone charger, power bank and the plug adapter
- One change of clothes and basic toiletries in travel sizes
Power banks and spare batteries usually need to stay in the cabin, so check your airline rules and keep them out of the checked bag.
On arrival
When you land, a few small steps make the rest of the trip easier. Get your data working before you leave the airport, keep the address of the first accommodation at hand in the local language, and check the official transport options into the city before accepting any offer at the arrivals hall. Take a photo of the luggage tags and keep the receipts for anything you pay at the airport.
An international trip is a long list of small tasks, and the hard part is remembering all of them at the right time. Put the checklist in one place, tick items off as you go and keep it on your phone during the trip. When the next journey comes, you start with a list that already works.