Travel document tips ~ Do your paperwork first!

Passports, visas, vaccinations, residency cards, emails

Here are some general travel documents tips to help you plan your trip. Without your visa, passport, vaccination records, etc. all in order and carried safely, with backups at home or online, your trip could end before it starts. And don't forget to travel-proof your email before you go. Read on for my tips on travel documents.

Passport Check that your passport is valid for *at least six months.* If it expires in just over six months, you can be sure every immigration person you encounter will draw this to your attention. Allow sufficient time to obtain a new passport -- depending on your country, and your status, it may take some time, or require personal visits to the passport office. (note: Entry requirements changing for U.S.-- see my blog post for details)

Visas Check with the embassy for the country (ies) you will be traveling to; they will require your passport and passport size photo(s). Arrange to courier, hand deliver and pick up, or enclose a pre-paid, self-addressed courier/postal envelope.

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Vaccinations Consult a travel health clinic for current issues for the country you will be visiting, and take into account every country on your itinerary. Some may only require specific vaccinations if you are entering from certain countries where there is a specific concern. Ethiopia, for one, requires a Yellow Fever vaccination. Generally, make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date. Diseases such as polio, that may be rare in much of the world, may be a serious problem in some countries. Ask, too, about getting hepatitis AB vaccine (Twin-Rix is one), and about a current flu shot. Haiti has a host of health concerns, including typhoid.

Conditions can change rapidly. For example, in February 2008, Canada health officials advise that a Canadian returning from Punta Cana Dominican Republic, has malaria; and, as Paraguay has reported a death from yellow fever, the first in over a hundred years, Canadians planning to visit Iguazu Falls Argentina (which borders Paraguay and Brazil) should be vaccinated against yellow fever.

April-May 2008 Measles cases in Toronto result in residents rushing ot check their measles vaccinations are up to date. See Disclaimer page for links to major government departments about travel safety and advisories.
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When you return home:

Should you become ill in the months following a trip abroad, be sure to tell your doctor, since some diseases can incubate for many weeks. (I don't mean to worry anyone, just file it away in the back of your mind in case.) If you live in a cold climate, and get a raging fever, and seek medical help, your doctor may not suspect malaria or similar unless you do tell him where you've been.

Proof of residency Check regulations in your own country to be sure you can return; regulations may change. A few years ago, Canada implemented new residency cards for non-citizens. The change took effect with the first of the new year. Many travelers who had gone overseas for the Christmas holidays found themselves unable to re-enter Canada. Not only that, the foreign airport refused to let them board, effectively stranding them abroad. You, *not your travel agent*, are responsible for arranging all documents needed to travel.

Email Set up an online (web based) email address or make sure you know how to access your home email from abroad. Test it before you leave.

Make Copies Take with you a few extra passport size photos in case you need to replace yours on the road or get a new visa. As well, you can scan any information that you may need to access while away, and save it in an email friendly format, then email it to yourself. Also make photocopies of your itinerary, prescriptions (eye glasses, medications etc), passport page with your passport number and photo, visas, proof of vaccinations, contact information for travel agency, airlines, hotel, travel insurance, credit card numbers or other banking information. Ideally this should fit on one page (or an index card if you do by hand). Take two copies with you -- one for your wallet and one in another location. (You may not be able to access the internet when you need the information.) The good news is you may never need this information, but if you do, it's at your fingertips.

Stop Unnecessary Emails Ask your email contacts who are fond of forwarding large files to stop doing this while you are away. Explain that you will be using (and likely paying for) internet access that may be a slow dialup connection, and that others may be waiting impatiently for their turns. If you use an autoresponder and you are on any listservs, then remove yourself from the list or turn of the autoresponder. List members will thank you!
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• January 13, 2008, 10:09 pm - Karen

  Hi Johnie

  First of all I apologize for my slow response -- I just got back from the Dominican Republic!

  See my blog for complete links and info, but:

  If you are traveling by air you need a passport -- see passports-to-enter-united-states-update

  If you are traveling by road, you need photo ID only at this time -- see travel-to-us-from-canada-take-your-photo-id

  hope this helps!

  Karen
  

• January 5, 2008, 1:01 am - johnie bragg

  I live in Indiana, I want to know do I need A passport to go visit someone in Mississauga canada.