Passport & Documents
The Emergency Documents Kit Every Traveller Needs
Fifteen minutes before your trip saves hours during it. A short, practical list of what to copy, store and carry.
Last checked: September 2026
The digital half
- Passport data page, visa pages, and any residence permit
- Travel insurance certificate and 24-hour assistance number
- Flight and hotel confirmations
- Prescriptions, with generic drug names rather than brand names
- A photo of your luggage, inside and out
Store these in a cloud folder you can open on a borrowed laptop, not only in an app that needs your phone.
The paper half
Paper survives a dead battery. On one card, write your emergency contact, your insurance number, the number to call to block your bank cards, and the address of where you are staying.
Keep them apart
Wallet in one pocket, backup card and paper card in the bag. If one goes missing, the other still works.
The night before
- Check the passport expiry date against destination entry rules
- Charge a power bank
- Tell your bank where you are going, if your bank still needs that
- Put one full change of clothes in your carry-on
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, and every situation is different. Always check the official airline or government information for your route before acting.
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