There are many reasons for traveling abroad. If you are a business person, business travel is essential in building strong relationships with stakeholders around the world. You could also be a student enrolled in a foreign institution, or just visiting a friend or family. Perhaps the most exciting, you could be taking a vacation abroad just to see amazing sceneries.

Whatever your reason is, traveling abroad can be fun and exciting. It is a way to see the world, experience different cultures and make new friends.

However, traveling abroad is very different from traversing your home country. There is a need to pay extra attention to every detail, most especially the essential documents that you need for your trip. Before you start getting excited about your trip abroad, ensure that you have these 5 documents with you.

1. Passport

A passport is issued by your government as a form of identification and proof of permission to travel around the world. They usually include your personal details such as your name, gender, birth date, and the like. When traveling abroad, you will need to verify your citizenship when entering foreign countries. You also have to produce it to regain your entry back to your country when your trip is over.

It is good to note that your passport needs to be valid for at least six months depending on where you are going. In addition, the application process takes time. If you apply for one or renew your passport, do it early enough before your scheduled travel.

2. Valid visa

Some countries such as the United States require foreigners to have a valid visa when entering their borders. However, travelers coming from countries that are Visa Waiver Program members are exempted from this. Before rushing to apply for one, it is important that you research whether you actually need one.

Unlike a passport, visas are issued by the country that you are visiting granting you permission to enter, stay or leave the country. They come in different types including work, tourist, student and transit visas. You need to apply one depending on your purpose of travel.

3. International driver license

Driving yourself around in a foreign city is a good way to avoid the crowded bus and railway stations especially at this time of the pandemic. If you plan to go that route, it is important that you have an international drivers license with you. In fact, many car rental companies will require you to have one before renting a car with them.

An international driver’s license has several benefits. For starters, it can act as your identification in some countries. Second, if you happen to be stopped by law enforcers or get into a road accident, having this document can reduce the risk of a fine. In addition, an international driver’s license is translated into different languages. This goes a long way in eliminating language barriers when interacting with local authorities regarding your driving around.

4. Vaccination certificates

Some countries will require that you be vaccinated against some diseases before allowing you entry. This is done in a bid to control the spread of the disease and protect people from contracting the same. Some of the common diseases that need vaccination before traveling include polio, yellow fever, and meningitis. For instance, India, Saudi Arabia, and the Maldives among others require a polio vaccination certificate if traveling from a prone country.

Ensure that you find out in advance whether your destination requires vaccination certificates. If so, ensure that you get vaccinated, and issued with a document to prove the same. In the wake of COVID-19, some countries are asking for proof of negative results. And, if the COVID-19 vaccine is approved, a vaccination certificate could well be among the documents to carry along when traveling.

5. Travel insurance

While traveling is exciting, it is equally a risky affair. You might suddenly fall ill in a foreign land or lose your luggage. You might also run into an emergency, requiring you to cancel your trip back home. These incidences require money and can be quite expensive paying from your pocket.

Travel insurance covers such expenses shielding you from the financial burden that comes with it. Be sure that you bring along your travel insurance documents for easier claims.

Conclusion

These are just 5 documents that you need. However, you need to bring along your air tickets, documents proving permission to travel with minors, a forex card, and proof of hotel bookings among others.

Remember to make copies of all your documents in both digital and hard copies. Leave some at home and place a copy in each of your luggage. This way, you will have a backup in case you lose your original documents.