Advice for travelling abroad
To help you have a safer holiday, there are things you can do before you travel. This includes information on passports, visas, travel advice, travel insurance, healthcare and what to do if there is an emergency.
Passport and visa advice
Always keep your passport safe and up-to-date.
Make sure that you check the entry requirements of the country you’re going to visit, including if a visa is needed, before you travel.
Check if you need extra documents if travelling with a child.
If your passport is lost or stolen while abroad, you will need to apply for an emergency travel document.
British passport holders
There is detailed advice and information at these links:
- Passports
- Foreign travel advice and country entry requirements
- Cancel a lost or stolen passport
- Travel urgently from abroad without your passport
- Travelling to the EU and Schengen area
- Travelling to the USA
- Get permission to take a child abroad
Irish passport holders
There is detailed advice and information at these links:
Travel advice
Check the travel advice pages for the country you’re visiting.
- Foreign travel advice and country entry requirements
- Travel advice
- Travel abroad
- Safety and security
- Security ratings
Tell family and friends where you're going and leave them your contact details, insurance policy details, and your itinerary and/ or store them online securely.
There is advice at these links:
- Foreign travel checklist
- Know before you go
- Solo and independent travel
- Advice for women travelling abroad
- Female travellers
- LGBT+ travel advice
- LGBTQI+ travellers
- Travel abroad by sea
- Arctic travel safety advice
- Festivals in Europe: travel checklist
Check your driving licence is current and valid, whether you will need a permit, and be aware of the driving laws in the country you're visiting.
If you’re thinking of backpacking or volunteering abroad, there is advice and information:
Health and travel insurance
Check what you need to do about health and travel insurance.
Research the health risks on the travel health information website as soon as possible before travelling.
Check well before your trip if you need vaccinations.
Make sure you protect yourself from the sun.
Money
You should:
- check expiry dates on your credit or debit card(s)
- tell your bank about your travel plans
- have enough money to cover emergencies and any unexpected delays
Think about taking more than one means of payment with you (cash, pre-paid travel card, debit card, credit card) and check which works out cheapest.
If your credit or debit card(s) are lost or stolen, cancel them.
There is information at these links:
When you are abroad
Be aware of the local customs and dress, and obey local laws. There may be serious penalties for breaking a law that might seem trivial at home.
Find out where the nearest embassy or consulate is, its contact details, check what services it offers and its opening times.
If your passport or valuables are stolen abroad, report it at once to the local police and get a statement. You will need one to claim against your travel insurance.
There is a range of information and advice.
- Find a British embassy, high commission or consulate
- Help and services around the world
- Reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad
- Get help if you’re a victim of crime abroad
- Assistance abroad
- Irish embassies and consulates abroad
- Local laws and customs
- Crime and reporting a crime
Returning home
Check import regulations for food and plants before you try to bring them back and the HM Revenue & Customs information on duty-free allowances, banned goods and so on.