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  3. Top 10 travel tips

Top 10 travel tips

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Regardless of where you’re going or what you’re doing, remember these 10 things when travelling overseas.

1. Check the visas, entry and exit requirements for your destination, and all your transit locations.

Many destinations currently have strict entry and exit measures in place. Check that you’re eligible for a visa and can meet all other entry requirements before booking anything. Contact the embassy or consulate for your destination to confirm requirements.

Remember to also check the entry requirements for the Australian state or territory you’ll be returning to after your trip.

  • Read about your destination

 

2. Subscribe to our travel advice, and follow @Smartraveller on social media.

Requirements for travel overseas can change – sometimes at short notice. We regularly update our travel advisories to reflect the risks and requirements for each destination. Subscribing will ensure you get notified as soon as something changes. Make sure you’re informed and be prepared for travel in a changing environment.

  • Read about subscription

 

3. Get comprehensive travel insurance.

Travel insurance is as important as your passport for overseas travel. Ensure it covers you for the places you’ll visit, the things you’ll do and any pre-existing medical conditions you have. Read the CHOICE travel insurance buying guide for advice on how to choose the best insurance for you.

  • Read about travel insurance

 

4. Check the expiry date of your passport before you travel.

Some destinations won’t let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after the date you plan to leave. Make sure you have enough validity on your passport. If you need a new one, plan ahead and apply for it as early as possible.

  • Read about passports

 

5. Ask about recommended vaccinations and other preventative health care for your destination.

Vaccinations can be an entry requirement for some destinations – and not just for COVID-19. There are other health risks you may face while travelling in some locations, such as malaria or hepatitis. Talk to your travel doctor about what preventative healthcare is recommended for where you’re going. Check your medication, too – certain medicines are illegal in some destinations, or require a permit.

  • Read about vaccinations and preventative health

 

6. Check if you’re regarded as a national of the destination you plan to visit.

Find out whether dual nationality will have any implications for your travel plans. Some destinations don’t recognise dual nationality. This can affect what consular services we can provide, if you need help in your other country of citizenship.

  • Read about dual nationality

 

7. Make copies of your passport, visas and insurance policy.

Having a copy of your travel documents can make replacing them easier if you lose them overseas. Carry them in a separate place to the originals, in your carry-on baggage. Leave a copy with someone at home. Know what to do if you lose your travel documents while travelling.

  • Read about lost property overseas

 

8. Be careful and don’t take any risks you wouldn’t consider at home.

Risks are often greater overseas. Don’t relax your normal safety standards just because you’re travelling. If you wouldn’t do it in Australia, don’t do it overseas. Stay safe and avoid danger.

  • Read about staying safe overseas

 

9. Obey the laws and cultural differences of the country you’re visiting.

Understand the local laws and cultural differences of your destination. Even if they appear harsh or unfair by Australian standards, local laws apply equally to travellers and locals. Respect cultural differences for things such as clothing or alcohol consumption. Don’t expect to be treated differently from locals just because you’re Australian. The Australian Government can’t get you out of trouble if you break the law.

  • Read about staying within the law

 

10. Keep in contact with friends and family back home.

Give them a copy of your itinerary before you go, so they know where you are. Let them know if you won’t be contactable for an extended period. Keep a hardcopy list of phone numbers on you, including emergency contacts, in case you can’t access the contacts on your mobile phone.

For more advice on what you need to think about before you travel and while you’re away, read our step-by-step guide to travel.

 

Read next

  • Read the Consular Services Charter to understand how we can and can’t help while you’re overseas.
  • See our advice for different planned activities while travelling.
  • Learn about requirements when leaving Australia, and returning home.
  • See more on COVID-19 vaccination and travel.

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.

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Main navigation

  • Home
  • Before you go
    • The basics
      • Destinations
      • Europe and the Schengen Area
      • Getting a foreign visa
      • Travel insurance
      • CHOICE travel insurance buying guide
    • Who you are
      • Academics
      • Colour, race, ethnicity, or religion
      • Dual nationals
      • Journalists
      • LGBTQIA+
      • Mature and older travellers
      • School leavers
      • Travelling with children
      • Travelling with a disability
      • Travelling with pets
      • Women
    • Activities
      • Adoption
      • Antarctica and the Arctic
      • Backpacking
      • Business
      • Living and working overseas
      • Marriage
      • Retiring overseas
      • Sports and adventure
      • Studying
      • Surrogacy
      • Volunteering
    • Major events
      • Cultural events
        • Travel overseas for Anzac Day
      • Religious events
        • Travel overseas for Ramadan
        • Travel overseas for Hajj
      • Sporting events
        • Rugby League Las Vegas 2025
    • Health
      • Infectious diseases
      • Going overseas for a medical procedure
      • Medical assistance overseas
      • Medication and medical equipment
      • Mental health
      • Organ transplant tourism
      • Pregnancy
      • Reciprocal health care agreements
      • What happens if you die overseas
    • Staying safe
      • Armed conflict
      • Assault
      • Cyber security
      • Earthquakes and tsunamis
      • Kidnapping
      • Natural disasters
      • Partying safely
      • Piracy
      • Protests and civil unrest
      • 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
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • 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
      • Robbed or mugged
      • Sexually assaulted
    • Crisis or emergency
      • Earthquake
      • Severe weather
      • Volcanic eruption
      • Bushfire
      • Nuclear incident
    • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
  • Urgent help
  • Our services
    • Consular State of Play
      • Data
      • Case studies
      • Images
      • Videos
      • Audio
      • Historical data
    • 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)
      • 영사 서비스 헌장 (Korean)
      • กฎบัตรว่าด้วยบริการต่าง ๆ ของกงสุล (Thai)
      • Quy định về Dịch Vụ Lãnh Sự (Vietnamese)
    • Communities
      • العربية (Arabic)
      • Bahasa Indonesia
      • 中文 简体 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 中文繁體 (Chinese Traditional)
      • 日本語 (Japanese)
      • 한국어 (Korean)
      • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
      • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
      • Filipino community
      • Indian community
    • Crises
    • News and updates
    • Notarial services
      • Documents we can legalise
      • Documents in Australia
      • Documents overseas
      • Certificate of No Impediment
      • Notarial forms
    • Passport services
    • Resources
      • Consular Privacy Collection Statement
    • Subscription
    • Travel advice explained
    • Voting overseas