[ARCHIVED CONTENT] Travel Checklists Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Staying safe overseas

you are less likely to be familiar with local conditions and risks;
you may be more exposed to a variety of threats such as crime; and
support which you could freely get in the UK may not be available or may be very expensive.

take a few simple precautions before you go and while you are there

Before you go

We provide information to help British nationals make informed decisions about their safety abroad (see www.fco.gov.uk/travel or call 0845 850 2829). This includes information on threats to personal safety arising from political unrest, conflicts, terrorist activities, anti-British demonstrations, lawlessness, violence, natural disasters, epidemics, and aircraft and shipping safety. We review the information on our travel website for every country every month and following any significant incident. We will revise it and reissue it once every three months at least. In a developing crisis we update the information much more regularly and, if necessary, several times a day (see note 1 below). Our travel website also contains important general information on safety abroad, under the heading ‘Know Before You Go’. You should also keep an eye on the news for reports of any problems in places that you plan to visit.
Always make sure that you have full travel insurance. Anyone travelling within the European Economic Area (see note 2) or Switzerland should also get a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which entitles you to some reduced or free emergency care – but you will still need travel insurance. You can apply for an EHIC on-line at www.ehic.org.uk or www.dh.gov.uk/travellers, by phone on 0845 606 2030 or at post offices. If you are going to live abroad, find out whether the UK has a social security agreement with the country where you plan to live and what services are covered. For more information, check the Department for Work and Pensions’ website (www.dwp.gov.uk). Unless your employer provides a health-care plan, you should consider private health-care plans to cover treatment in the country where you live. You cannot expect public funds to be used to pay for people who have not taken out insurance, whether going on holiday or going to live overseas, and you should remember that the costs of, for example, a medical emergency abroad can be very expensive.
Make sure your insurance is up to date, valid for the entire trip and covers everyone who is travelling. Check exactly what is covered, for example, cover for all the activities you want to do, including any dangerous sports, all your luggage and equipment, personal injury as a result of terrorist activity, and legal costs. You should also look carefully at exemptions to the insurance policy, including any relating to pre-existing medical conditions, or alcohol and drugs. Be sure to tell your insurer about any pre-existing medical conditions you may have, including any psychiatric illness. The policy may not be valid if you fail to do this, resulting in you or your family and friends having to pay for any treatment yourself. Remember to take the policy number and the 24-hour emergency number with you.
Make sure that all your vaccinations are up to date and find out about any other suggested medical advice by visiting your health-care provider. Follow this advice and be aware of possible health risks during your trip. Websites such as www.dh.gov.uk/travellers are also a useful source of information. Pack enough supplies of any medication that you are taking in your hand luggage. You should keep your medication in its original packaging and take any prescription documents with you. Check with the nearest embassy of the country you are going to (which may be based in London or another European city) that your medication will be legal in that country and find out whether you will need to take a doctor’s letter with you. For longer trips, visit your dentist and optician before travelling.
Fill in the contact details at the back of your passport for your next-of-kin or someone who can be contacted in an emergency. Apart from your passport, take another form of identification with you (preferably one with a photograph, such as a driving licence).
Make sure you are aware of the immigration and customs controls of the country you are travelling to, including any necessary visas. You should note that for many countries your passport needs to be valid for at least six months after the date you travel. In the UK, you can get on-line information on how to get a passport from the Identity and Passport Service (www.passport.gov.uk) or by calling 0870 521 0410. It is your responsibility to make sure you have the correct visa for your stay in another country. If you are experiencing difficulties entering a country, for example if you do not have a visa or your passport is not valid, it is unlikely that consular staff will be able to help you enter the country. They cannot get involved in another country’s immigration policy or procedures.
Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. Leave an itinerary and details of where you might be able to be contacted during your time abroad. You should also make two copies of your passport (including pages with relevant visas), insurance details and any other important travel documents. Leave one copy at home with a family member or a reliable friend and take one copy with you, packed separately from your passport.
Take enough money for your trip and some back-up funds, such as traveller’s cheques, some cash (sterling or US dollars) or credit cards. Before you leave, check that your cards are valid, and find out how you can replace them and your traveller’s cheques if they are lost or stolen. Keep a separate note of their numbers and of the number you would need to ring to stop any credit cards if they are lost or stolen.
Buy a good travel guide that includes basic information on local laws and customs. Talk to your travel agent or tour operator about possible risks.
If you are planning to drive, make sure your UK driving licence is current and valid. Make sure you know the driving laws, licence requirements and driving conditions in the country you are visiting. In some countries you will need to have an international driving permit as well as your UK licence. Never drink and drive. Be aware that in many countries there are on-the-spot fines for traffic offences.
If you are travelling in uncertain local conditions or remote areas, you should consider contacting the local British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to see if you need to register with them. In some countries, our travel website may recommend that all British nationals register in this way. For some countries, you can register on-line at www.fco.gov.uk. Contact details of our missions are also available on this website.

Special considerations

Travel can be tiring and difficult for everyone. But some travellers may want to plan trips with particular care. As well as the above general information, some travellers may have to take into account other considerations depending on their circumstances. These travellers might include:

women travelling alone;
hajj pilgrims;
young travellers;
backpackers and independent travellers;
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender travellers; and
travellers with disabilities.

When you are there

Be aware of security and take sensible precautions. Leave your jewellery and valuables at home if you can. Only carry as much money as you need for the day. Leave the rest, and at least one credit card, in the hotel safe if one is available. Keep copies of your passport, insurance details and other important travel documents separate from the originals. It is useful to always have some form of identity on you, such as a driving licence or a photocopy of your passport. Stay aware of what is going on around you and keep away from situations where you do not feel comfortable. Find out from your guidebook or tour guide about any local scams. Keep up to date with local and regional events in the media. Don’t take risks on holidays that you wouldn’t take at home. If a situation looks dangerous, it probably is.
Keep a note of the local British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate phone number (details are on our Travel Advice pages for the country you are visiting). When you arrive, find out how to get in touch with the local emergency services in case you need them during your stay.
Passports are valuable documents, and you are responsible for taking all reasonable steps to protect your passport. While we can usually issue replacement passports overseas (and see Passports & Visas), if you repeatedly lose your passport while overseas we may need to interview you for security purposes before issuing a replacement. In certain circumstances, we may need to restrict the validity of replacement passports. We will explain this to you in full.
Stay in regular touch with your family and friends in the UK, especially if you are travelling alone or in a remote area, or you are aware of a terrorist attack or other catastrophe in the region in which you are travelling. Although you may feel perfectly safe, people at home may worry if they don’t hear from you, and could report you missing.
You must keep to local laws. There may be very serious penalties for breaking a law which might seem trivial to you or for doing something which may not be illegal in the UK. Do not overstay your visa or work illegally – you may be fined or sent to prison. Hobbies that involve using cameras and binoculars, such as birdwatching or plane spotting, may be misunderstood (particularly near military sites). If in doubt, don’t do it.
Respect local customs and behave and dress appropriately, particularly when visiting religious sites, markets and rural communities. Travel guidebooks, tour operators and hotel staff are all useful sources of information. If in doubt, take extra care. In some places, behaviour that would be acceptable elsewhere can lead to serious trouble. In some countries, it can also be worth asking for permission before taking any photographs so as not to cause offence. Help protect local wildlife and habitats by respecting rules and regulations (including how to get rid of rubbish properly). Be aware that buying any wildlife products is risky. Customs departments throughout the world confiscate illegal souvenirs, and in the UK you could face a criminal prosecution and fines.
Check that what you are bringing back to the UK is legal. You can get more information on bringing back meat, animal products or plants from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at www.defra.gov.uk or phone 08459 335577. You can get information about banned and restricted goods, and your customs allowances, from HM Revenue and Customs on www.hmrc.gov.uk or phone 0845 010 9000.
Be aware of local attitudes to alcohol and know your own limit. Remember that drinks served overseas are often stronger than those served in the UK. Keep your drinks with you at all times as drinks can be spiked with drugs to make you more vulnerable to assault or rape. Be aware that accidents are more likely to happen after drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Avoid swimming or fooling around on balconies or other high places. If you have an accident or injure yourself while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is unlikely that your insurance policy will cover you.
Be aware of what may happen if you become involved with drugs overseas. Not only are there health risks, but there may also be severe penalties for any association with drugs. Never carry packages through customs for other people and be cautious about accepting gifts. If you are driving, do not lend your vehicle to other people and do not sit in someone else’s vehicle when going through customs or crossing borders – get out and walk. Pack your own baggage, fasten it securely and do not leave it unattended. We have a leaflet called ‘Drugs: Information for Travellers’ which will give you more information. There are details are on the ‘Our Publications’ page.
Follow any health advice you received before travelling. You should, for example, drink plenty of safe drinking water, use sunscreen, and take care what you eat and where you eat it.
We have lists of local lawyers, interpreters, doctors and funeral directors that are available on Embassy, High Commission or Consulate websites. We aim to check the accuracy of these lists at least once a year (see note 1 below).