Passport and visa basics
Most countries require at least six months of passport validity remaining from your date of entry, and at least two blank visa pages. Check your destination's specific visa requirements early — some take days, others take weeks.
"Most countries require at least six months of passport validity remaining from your date of entry, and at least two blank visa pages."
The copies you should always carry
A printed and digital copy of your passport, visa, hotel bookings, return tickets and travel insurance — stored separately from the originals. If your bag is lost, your phone or a printed folder is your backup plan.
Travel insurance isn't optional
Many countries in the Schengen area legally require proof of travel insurance to issue a visa, and even where it isn't mandatory, medical costs abroad can be significantly higher than at home. It's one of the cheapest parts of a trip and one of the most important.
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