Making a Family Travel Documents Checklist

*Collaborative Post

Traveling is a wonderful opportunity to create memories and explore new places together. Getting your family ready for a vacation often comes with a lot of stress. With so much information out there, it can be confusing to understand exactly what documents you need. But you’ll feel relieved after preparing a documents checklist.

In this article, we’ll break it all down for you, so you can organize your vacation with no hassle. Let’s see which travel documents you might need to prepare for traveling with your family members. 

Visa

The first thing you should include in your checklist is a visa. Some countries require citizens of certain countries to get this document for crossing the border. A visa is permission from a country to let you enter, stay, or travel through it for a specific time and purpose. Without it, you may be denied boarding at the airport or entry upon arrival. You have to check what type of visa you need for your destination and apply early. 

For your application, you’ll need to gather all the required documents, like your passport, application form, proof of travel plans, and photos. You can use passport photo software to prepare photos for your whole family without leaving the comfort of your home. Just follow the link, and you’ll have 100% compliant pictures and save some time you’d have to spend taking your family members to a photo studio. 

Passport 

This document proves you’re a citizen and allows you to travel internationally. Most countries require your passport to be valid until at least 3 or 6 months after your trip abroad is scheduled to end. Just like adults, children who travel to a foreign country will also need a passport. But you should take into account that U.S. passports issued to travelers under the age of 16 are only valid for 5 years. 

Also, it’s a good idea to make copies of the main page and keep them separate from your passport for safety. If you prefer keeping everything on your phone, you can also make digital copies to have them at hand. 

Birth Certificate 

When traveling with kids internationally, you might need their birth certificates. A birth certificate shows where and when someone was born and who their parents are. You need to find out if your destination requires them for children and get official copies. If the certificate isn’t in the local language, you should also get a certified translation.

Driving Permit

If you plan to drive during your vacation, check if an international driving permit (IDP) is required. Some countries accept your home country’s driving license, while others may need an IDP along with it. 

Return Tickets  

Having return tickets is often necessary as well. These show your plan to leave the country and return home. Many places require proof of return or onward travel for entry, so make sure you see if the place you’re going needs you to have a ticket to leave. The rules can change based on where you’re from and how long you’ll be there. If you’re not sure when you’ll come back, get tickets that you can change or get money back for. It can help if things change.

Additional Travel Documents

Apart from the key documents mentioned earlier, there are a few more things you should consider adding to your family travel checklist. For example, many travelers get travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost luggage. This way, you can protect your family and your trip from unexpected expenses and problems.

If only one parent is going on the trip with the kids, it’s a good idea to have a letter from the other parent giving permission for the international travel. This letter should be notarized to make it official and avoid any issues during your journey.

It’s also highly recommended to have a list of emergency contact numbers with you. It’s important to include local embassies, consulates, and important family contacts. Make sure each family member has a copy of this list, and save a digital copy on your phone or in the cloud, just in case.

Summary

Even though it might feel like a hassle to gather all these documents, they’re really important for an enjoyable family trip. Now, search for the official requirements, make your checklist of documents, and begin planning your stress-free vacation! 

*This is a collaborative post. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.