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  2. Before you go
  3. The basics

The basics

Last Updated
Tuesday, 21/03/2023
""

Download the checklist [PDF 128 KB]

Learn about your destination

  • Read our travel advice for your destination. We’ll tell you the key risks and advise you how to stay safe. Learn what each advice level means in our travel advisories.
  • Subscribe to our travel advice and we’ll update you when things change. Also follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
  • Familiarise yourself with COVID-19 entry and exit rules in your destination. 
  • 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.

Organise your documents and insurance

  • Confirm your passport is valid for at least 6 months from when you think your trip will end.
  • 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 destinations you’ll visit before every trip.
  • Get comprehensive travel insurance to cover you and your belongings. Check the fine print - 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.
  • Get an international COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
  • Check if extra documents are needed if you’re travelling with children.
  • 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.

Plan for your health

  • Consider if you’re physically and mentally healthy enough for travel.  Get advice from your doctor if you’re unsure.
  • See your doctor or travel clinic at least 8 weeks before you go for a basic health check. Get the 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 people where you're going

  • Tell your bank you’re travelling and check if your cards will work. Have several payment options. Check how much local and foreign currency you can bring into your destination.
  • Share your itinerary with friends or family members. Give them copies of your passport and visa.
  • Give a trusted contact copies of your passport and visa, key documents such as prescriptions, your insurance policy and documents for travelling with children.

Plan for if things go wrong

  • Know what to do if there’s a crisis where you are overseas.
  • Keep a list of contacts in case you need assistance.
  • Read the Consular Service Charter to understand how we can help Australians overseas.

See also

  • Read COVID-19 information for international travellers (Department of Health)
  • Learn about Australia's border and biosecurity measures (Department of Home Affairs)
  • 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

Resources

 

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

View details
Fact sheet: Sexual assault overseas

Advice for victim/survivors who have been sexually assaulted while overseas.

View details
Fact sheet: Arrested or detained overseas

Information to help you understand what consular staff in Australia and overseas can do to assist prisoners and their families when someone is arrested overseas.

View details

Main navigation

  • The basics
    • Destinations
    • Passport services
    • Visas
    • Insurance
    • Europe and the Schengen Area
    • Travel advice explained
  • Who you are
    • Academics
    • Colour, race, ethnicity, or religion
    • Dual nationals
    • Journalists
    • LGBTI++
    • Mature
    • School leavers
    • Travelling with children
    • Travelling with a disability
    • Travelling with pets
    • Women
  • Activities
    • Adoption
    • Adventure
    • Backpacking
    • Business
    • Living and working overseas
    • Marriage
    • Studying
    • Surrogacy
    • Volunteering
  • Major events
    • Cultural events
    • Religious events
    • Sporting events
  • Health
    • Mental health
    • Infectious diseases
    • Medical assistance overseas
    • Medical tourism
    • Medication
    • Pregnancy
    • Reciprocal health
    • Vaccinations
    • Death
  • Staying safe
    • Armed conflict
    • Assault
    • Cyber security
    • 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 127.62 KB)

Emergency consular assistance

The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular emergency assistance.

+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas

1300 555 135 from within Australia

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

Enquiries and feedback

For non-urgent enquiries, or to provide feedback on consular services that you've recently received, contact us online.

For information on notarial services, email legalisations.australia@dfat.gov.au

To report a vulnerability you’ve identified on this website or to find out more about the department’s Vulnerability Disclosure Policy visit the DFAT website

About us

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

For more information go to about us.

Information in other languages

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Main navigation

  • HomeHome
  • Before you go
    • The basics
      • Destinations
      • Passport services
      • Visas
      • Insurance
      • Europe and the Schengen Area
      • Travel advice explained
    • Who you are
      • Academics
      • Colour, race, ethnicity, or religion
      • Dual nationals
      • Journalists
      • LGBTI++
      • Mature
      • School leavers
      • Travelling with children
      • Travelling with a disability
      • Travelling with pets
      • Women
    • Activities
      • Adoption
      • Adventure
      • Backpacking
      • Business
      • Living and working overseas
      • Marriage
      • Studying
      • Surrogacy
      • Volunteering
    • Major events
      • Cultural events
      • Religious events
      • Sporting events
    • Health
      • Mental health
      • Infectious diseases
      • Medical assistance overseas
      • Medical tourism
      • Medication
      • Pregnancy
      • Reciprocal health
      • Vaccinations
      • Death
    • Staying safe
      • Armed conflict
      • Assault
      • Cyber security
      • 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
      • Armed conflict
      • Earthquake
      • Severe weather
      • Terrorist situation
      • Volcanic eruption
      • Bushfire
      • Nuclear incident
    • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
  • Urgent helpLinks to help
  • Our servicesLinks to services
    • Consular State of Play
    • Consular Services Charter
      • ميثاق الخدمات القنصلية (Arabic)
      • 领事服务章程 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 領事服務章程 (Chinese Traditional)
      • Panduan Layanan Konsuler (Indonesian)
      • 領事サービス憲章 (Japanese)
      • กฎบัตรว่าด้วยบริการต่าง ๆ ของกงสุล (Thai)
      • Quy định về Dịch Vụ Lãnh Sự (Vietnamese)
    • Travel advice explained
    • Subscription
    • Crises
    • Passport services
    • Notarial services
      • Documents
      • Documents in Australia
      • Documents overseas
      • Certificate of No Impediment
      • Notarial forms
    • Voting overseas
    • Communities
      • العربية (Arabic)
      • Bahasa Indonesia
      • 中文 简体 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 中文繁體 (Chinese Traditional)
      • 日本語 (Japanese)
      • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
      • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
      • Filipino community
      • Indian community
    • Resources
      • CHOICE travel insurance guide
      • Consular Privacy Collection Statement