Paperwork Before You Leave - Checklist for Backpackers

Here are a few tips on stuff to get out of the way* Addresses and phone numbers to friends(for
before heading off:postcards)
  
Work relatedPhoto
  
Finish paperwork at work (e.g. time reporting).Bring passport photos if needed in order to get a visa
 on arrival or if you lose your passport and need to get
Book hotela new.
  
Make a booking for the first night if you arrive at anBook to read on the plane
inconvenient hour, have traveled for many hours or 
you arrive in high season (where findingGet it before you go to the airport (where they are
accommodations may be difficult). There are manyusually more expensive).
on-line services for booking or just use your travel 
agency.Photocopies
  
Sticky labelsMake photocopies of all important documents such as:
  
Get sticky labels and write peoples name on them,* Visa
then just stick them onto your postcards. 
 * Passport
Certificate of Immunizations 
 * Tickets
Bring your Certificate of Immunizations (health book) 
 * Certificate of Immunizations (health book)
Visa 
 * Maps in the guidebook (in order not to have to carry
Get necessary visas in your passport. Start thisthe book along while walking around)
process in time since it can be time consuming. 
Sometimes you can get visa on arrival. See visaStore the photocopies in a separate location from the
section for details.originals and protect the copies from rain with a plastic
 cover.
 
 Upload copies
Drivers license 
 If you have access to a scanner you can scan the
If you plan on driving bring your drivers license along.photocopies (see previous bullet) and upload them to
Get an international drivers license if needed.the Internet (e.g. send an e-mail to yourself with the
 files attached). If you do not have a scanner you can
Other cardstake a photo with your digital camera instead of
 scanning. You can also e-mail them to a friend or your
Bring other relevant cards such as airline bonus cards,family.
phone cards, student cards (e.g. ISIC) to obtain 
discounts, Hostelling International card etc. If you havePrint information from the Internet
an e-ticket and it was registered to a card, make sure 
that you bring the relevant card along.Print the information you have gathered on the Internet
 about your destination).
Insurance 
 Your own checklist
Make sure you have a paper which states your 
insurance cover with policy number and contact details.Make a copy of your own checklist (based on this
If you live in the European Union and will visit anotherone) and bring along. It may be useful for insurance
country in the E.U. get a European Health Insurancepurposes if your luggage is lost/stolen.
Card which entitles you to receive health care under 
the same economic conditions as the citizens of thePhrase list
country you will visit. 
 A small list with the most useful phrases in the local
Ticket and itinerarylanguage to keep in your wallet/purse for easy access
 or on your mp3-player.
Bring your ticket and itinerary along. 
 Guidebook
Contact information 
 Dictionary
Print contact information to: 
 There are electronic ones you can download to your
* Embassiescell phone or portable computer. You can also get a
 separate electronic device or a good old paper
* Health clinic where you got your immunizationsdictionary :)
  
* Insurance company. Note if there are specialPassport
emergency contact numbers (sometimes reverse 
charge)Apply for a passport well in advance if you do not
 have one. Check the expiry date of your passport.
* Your bank/credit card issuer so that you can reportSome countries require it to be valid for at least six
stolen/lost cardsmonths from your date of entry.
  
* Travel agentCheck the state of your passport, I was once almost
 refused to board a plane to Japan because the page
* Traveler´s cheques issuers local officewith my passport photo was almost falling out of my
 passport (a well know quality problem with some
* HotelsSwedish passports). This can also prevent you from
 getting a visa.
* Emergency contacts 
 Happy travels!