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Traveling does not just involve buying the flying tickets and booking a hotel room. You will need to prepare various travel documents so that you can enter a country, especially if you are going to multiple destinations. If customs at any of your destinations find that there are inconsistencies and problems with your documents, that could spell trouble for you. When this happens, you might be subjected to various screenings and interviews, most of which can be exhaustive.

So if you are planning to travel the world, do not just focus on flight tickets and online travel insurance purchases, take the time to organise other documents that you will be required to present. To help you, we have created a guide which lists down everything you need to prepare for your travel.

Check your IDs if these are up-to-date

The first thing you need to do is tocheck whether your IDs are not about to expire. Any identification that you have that is not up-to-datewill cause problems in customs, even ifit is notcompletely expired. Note thatthe customs all over the world have become strict when it comes to this so ensure your IDs are not expiring soon .

Additionally, make sure that there no inconsistencies across all IDs, even with your credit cards. Double check if your name are spelled correctly on all IDs and the information are the same like your birth date.

Renew your passport 3 months before your trip

Getting a passport usually takes a month or twoto finish, from the application process up until receiving it in the mail. Depending on where you are from, there are foreign offices that will not require you to fill out the application form on their office. You just need to download an application form on their website, mail the application or drop them off at the office, and then wait for it to get processed. However, you can choose to apply at their office directly, this process cuts the waiting time significantly. If you need to rush the process, you can always pay extra for expedited service.

If you have a passport already, also look at the expiration date. Most countries will not allow you to enter if your passport expires within theeto sixmonths. So make sure you get to apply for passport renewal in time for your trip.

Try to apply for visa a month in advance

There are countries that will require you to get a visa before entering. This usually takes time because they will need to see your bank statements and passport first before you are given a visa. Note that bank statements are assessed solely to see if you are capable of purchasing a ticket home or to keep up with the cost of living during the trip. This process is one way for them to avoid allowing people who are planning to live there illegally.Because this takes time, make sure you apply for a visa at least oneor two months before your trip.

Photocopy all of these documents

The last thing you need to do is to photocopy your passport and identification cards in case you will need them. Organise them in one folder for easy retrieval if, at one point, you are asked to show them. Additionally, you can also save soft copies on a cloud system so you can access them wherever there is internet.

Make sure that your travels are not hindered just because you are not prepared well. Fix the needed documents, purchase the appropriate travel insurance, and schedule your trip accordingly. Do all of these things meticulously to avoidtroubles during your trip.