By Shannon Beekman

Travelling is often viewed as a carefree experience, consisting of beautiful views, exciting adventures and good times. And while this is mostly true, there’s still paperwork involved.

Here’s a list of administrative tasks to consider getting ahead of:

PASSPORT – First and foremost, you need to make sure you have a valid passport and/or leave enough time to apply for one. In many countries, the authorities will not let you enter with a passport that expires in less than 6 months of arrival.

TOP TIP
In case your passport is lost or stolen, keep a digital backup online so you can access it and/or print a copy if needed.

VISAS – Depending on the type of passport/s you hold, you might need to apply for a visa to gain access to some countries. Do a search online to check if you will need a visa for the countries you plan to visit and remember to allow enough time for the application process. Although some visas can be obtained on arrival, there may be others that require advance application, so don’t leave it to the last minute.

If you’re travelling through Africa, Go2Africa recommends asking their preferred supplier, Sherpa, a trusted visa and passport service provider, to assist you with your visa requirements.

TRAVEL INSURANCE – It is generally recommended to purchase your insurance prior to leaving for your travel adventure. Ideally, you want it to cover trip delays or cancellations, lost luggage, medical expenses and other unforeseen circumstances. The policy should provide coverage for the duration of your entire trip as well as for the activities you plan to undertake, especially if you’re thinking about getting involved in any high risk sports.

TOP TIP
Consider getting the tier of insurance that covers the shipment of your body back to your loved ones because should the unimaginable happen while you are abroad, you want to have this covered. The logistics and costs involved in shipping a body back home are astronomical. I discovered this a few months before I started backpacking… I came across a fundraiser where someone had died in an unfortunate accident in Scandinavia and his grieving family in Britain couldn’t afford the shipping costs to get his body back. According to the fundraiser, he was still getting around to renewing his travel insurance which had lapsed 5 days prior to the fatal accident.

VACCINATION CERTIFICATES – Each country you visit will have their own set of health requirements, some of which are mandatory. And if you do not have the required paperwork to prove you have had the necessary vaccinations, you may be denied entry. For example: Some countries in Africa require you to have a Yellow Fever vaccination.

Check with your doctor or travel clinic for the most up-to-date information and recommendations.

TOP TIP
Check out our post about Malaria and other Health Hazard in Africa.

ITINERARY AND CONFIRMATION DOCUMENTS – It’s advisable to have printed paper copies of your itinerary, tickets, hotel reservations and any tour or activity confirmations stored in a dedicated travel folder. While you might feel this is unnecessary because you have everything stored securely online, depending on where you are travelling, some places might not have electricity, never mind a reliable internet connection. Having this paperwork on hand is also helpful if your device is lost, stolen or the battery is flat.

Hopefully this helps you. However, this list is by no means definitive so if there’s anything you think I’ve missed, please share it with me, and the travel community, in the comments below.