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  1. Home
  2. Before you go
  3. The basics

The basics

Before you go

  • Read our travel advice. We’ll tell you the key risks and advise you how to stay safe.
  • Subscribe to our travel advice and we’ll update you when things change. Also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
  • Confirm your passport is valid for 6 months from when you think your trip will end. Don’t get stranded.
  • Get the right visa for countries you’re visiting or transiting through. Smartraveller can’t help you with visas. Visa conditions change regularly so check the Embassy of the countries you’ll visit before every trip.
  • Check if extra documents are needed if you’re travelling with children.
  • Get comprehensive travel insurance to cover you and your gear. Get insurance that’s right for you and covers your activities in the places you’ll go. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
  • Consider your physical and mental health. Get advice from your doctor if you’re unsure.
  • Have a health check-up and get vaccinated. See your doctor or travel clinic 8 weeks before you go for a basic health check and to get vaccinations needed for the places you’ll go.
  • Check if your medication is legal and available in the places you’re going. Take enough of your prescribed medicines to last the whole trip. Carry copies of your prescription and a letter from your doctor.
  • Tell your bank you’re travelling and check if your cards will work. Have several payment options.
  • If you’ll drive overseas check out the local traffic laws and practices. You’re likely to need an International Driving Permit (IDP) as well as your Australian driver’s licence.
  • Research the local laws of the countries you plan to visit. If you're a dual national, check if this will have any implications for your trip.
  • Share your itinerary with friends or family members. Give them copies of your passport and visa. Share copies of key documents such as prescriptions, your insurance policy and documents for travelling with children.
  • Know what to do if there’s a crisis where you are overseas.
  • Keep a list of contacts in case you need assistance

Read more 

  • See what each advice level means in travel advisories
  • See our advice on how to take care of your health.
  • Learn about staying safe and avoiding danger.
  • Read about staying within the law, so you can avoid being arrested or jailed.
  • See our advice for the activities you plan to do.
  • Know more about getting around in your destination
  • Download the checklist to ensure you are ready for your travels
  • Read the Consular Service Charter to understand how we can help Australians overseas.

See also

  • Find your destination's embassy or consulate in Australia for visa information.
  • Learn about International Driving Permits (IDPs).
  • Visit Scamwatch (ACCC) to learn how to recognise, avoid and report scams.

Related content

Fact sheet: Travel smart advice for all travellers

The better prepared you are, the safer and more enjoyable your travel will be.

View details
Resources

Explore this page to learn about resources we offer industry, media, education and the community.

View details
Before you go checklist

A handy checklist to tell you what you need to do before you head off on your trip.

View details

Main navigation

  • The basics
    • Destinations
    • Passport services
    • Visas
    • Insurance
    • Schengen
    • Travel advice explained
  • Who you are
    • Children
    • Dual nationals
    • LGBTI++
    • Mature
    • School leavers
    • Women
  • Activities
    • Adoption
    • Adventure
    • Backpacking
    • Business
    • Living and working overseas
    • Marriage
    • Studying
    • Surrogacy
    • Volunteering
  • Major events
    • Hajj
    • Ramadan
  • Health
    • Disability
    • Infectious diseases
    • Medical assistance overseas
    • Medical tourism
    • Medication
    • Mental health
    • Pregnancy
    • Reciprocal health
    • Vaccinations
    • Death
  • Staying safe
    • Assault
    • Demonstrations
    • Earthquakes and tsunamis
    • Kidnapping
    • Natural disasters
    • Partying safely
    • Piracy
    • Scams
    • Severe weather
    • Sexual assault
    • Terrorism
    • Theft and robbery
  • Laws
    • Carrying or using drugs
    • Child sex offences
    • Female genital mutilation
    • Forced marriage
  • Getting around
    • Air travel
    • Boat travel
    • Cruising
    • Public transport
    • Road safety
  • Before you go checklist (PDF 146.23 KB)

Contact us

The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular emergency assistance.

+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas

1300 555 135 from within Australia

For non-urgent enquiries, visit the contact page

About us

Smartraveller is provided by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

For how we can help you overseas see the Consular Services Charter.

For more information go to about us.

Resources

View resources for travel industry and media.

Feedback

To provide feedback on our website or subscription service, email us at smartraveller@dfat.gov.au

To provide feedback on consular services that you have recently received, email consular.feedback@dfat.gov.au

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Main navigation

  • HomeHome
  • Before you go
    • The basics
      • Destinations
      • Passport services
      • Visas
      • Insurance
      • Schengen
      • Travel advice explained
    • Who you are
      • Children
      • Dual nationals
      • LGBTI++
      • Mature
      • School leavers
      • Women
    • Activities
      • Adoption
      • Adventure
      • Backpacking
      • Business
      • Living and working overseas
      • Marriage
      • Studying
      • Surrogacy
      • Volunteering
    • Major events
      • Hajj
      • Ramadan
    • Health
      • Disability
      • Infectious diseases
      • Medical assistance overseas
      • Medical tourism
      • Medication
      • Mental health
      • Pregnancy
      • Reciprocal health
      • Vaccinations
      • Death
    • Staying safe
      • Assault
      • Demonstrations
      • Earthquakes and tsunamis
      • Kidnapping
      • Natural disasters
      • Partying safely
      • Piracy
      • Scams
      • Severe weather
      • Sexual assault
      • Terrorism
      • Theft and robbery
    • Laws
      • Carrying or using drugs
      • Child sex offences
      • Female genital mutilation
      • Forced marriage
    • Getting around
      • Air travel
      • Boat travel
      • Cruising
      • Public transport
      • Road safety
  • Destinations
    • View all destinations
    • AfricaBrowse destinations in Africa.
    • AmericasBrowse all destinations in the Americas.
    • AsiaBrowse all destinations in Asia.
    • EuropeBrowse all destinations in Europe.
    • Middle EastBrowse all destinations in the Middle East.
    • PacificBrowse all destinations in the Pacific.
  • While you're away
    • When things go wrong
      • Arrested or jailed
      • Lost property
      • Medical assistance
      • Money problems
      • Someone is missing
      • Someone died
    • Crime overseas
      • Assaulted
      • Kidnapped
      • Robbed or mugged
      • Scammed
      • Sexually assaulted
    • Crisis or emergency
      • Demonstration
      • Earthquake
      • Severe weather
      • Terrorist situation
      • Volcanic eruption
    • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
      • COVID-19 portal
  • Urgent helpLinks to help
  • Our servicesLinks to services
    • Consular Services Charter
      • Arabic
      • Chinese Simplified
      • Chinese Traditional
      • Indonesian
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
    • Travel advice explained
    • Subscription
    • Crises
    • Passport services
      • Passports in Australia
      • Passports overseas
    • Notarial services
      • Documents
      • Documents in Australia
      • Documents overseas
      • Certificate of No Impediment
      • Notarial forms
    • Voting overseas
    • Communities
      • العربية (Arabic)
      • 中文 简体 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 中文繁體 (Chinese Traditional)
      • Bahasa Indonesia
      • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
      • (Tiếng Việt) Vietnamese
      • Filipino community
      • Indian community
      • Malaysian community
    • Resources
      • Missing overseas
      • Fact sheet: Arrested or jailed overseas
      • Fact sheet: Sexual assault overseas
      • Fact sheet: Death overseas
      • Fact sheet: Travel Smart
      • Consular Privacy Collection Statement
      • CHOICE travel insurance guide
      • Before you go checklist
  • COVID-19
    • COVID-19
      • Leaving Australia
      • Trying to get home
      • Returning home
      • Staying overseas
      • Overseas financial assistance
      • Overseas financial assistance FAQs
      • General FAQs
      • Registration FAQs