Travel Essentials Checklist

From visa applications and ordering foreign currency, to securing travel insurance and packing your travel essentials, we’ve got your checklist covered. Plan your trip with confidence.

Check your passport and visas

Avoid unnecessary airport holdups with these things to do before travelling overseas.

Check your passport is valid

Don’t get caught out by a lapsed or soon-to-expire passport. Some countries insist you still have at least six months left on your passport before they allow you to enter. Check your passport’s expiry date before you travel, and if you’re not sure it’ll be valid until your return, get a new one.

Need a passport quickly?

Find out more about urgent applications and priority processing

Secure all the necessary visas

Depending on where you’re travelling to and the length of your stay you may need a visa to enter the country.

For example, if you’re travelling to the US, you may need an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which lets you stay for up to 90 days.
As of 8 of January 2025, you may need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) when traveling to the UK.
From mid-2025, to enter European Union countries, you may need a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) travel authorisation.

Pack your travel essentials

Aside from the obvious packing necessities, like your clothes and toiletries, make sure your travel checklist includes these travel essentials for a smooth and stress-free trip.

Health supplies

Medication
Copy of your prescription
Glasses or contact lenses
First aid kit

Travel documents

Passport
Visa
Ticket or booking confirmation
Travel insurance documents
Vaccination certificates
Itinerary details
Driver’s licence/ID

Email copies of these to yourself for backup.

Useful numbers

Address and phone number of the Embassy or Consulate at your destination
Your airline, travel agency and American Express support numbers
Name, address, and phone number of a family member or friend to be contacted in an emergency
Name and phone number of your health care provider
Emergency contact phone number from your travel health insurance provider

And don't forget...

Your mobile phone and charger
Travel adapters
House and car keys (if you’re parking at the airport)
Your wallet and American Express Card

three women watching hot air balloons on a terrace

couple unloading a kayak from the car by a lake

Hand Luggage

Check hand luggage limitations with your airline before travelling. Some items, like sharp objects and liquids above a certain amount, may not be allowed in the cabin with you. Your airline may also have restrictions on the amount and size of luggage you can take on board. Find hand luggage restriction at AU airports here.

You’ll want these things with you on the flight:

Passport and other travel documents
Valuables
Headphones
Cash and travel credit card
Snacks and water
Any in-flight medication
A book or game

Ensure you’re insured

As an American Express Cardmember, you may have some travel insurance in place already. Check the details in case you need to add extra cover for certain activities like skiing, valuables, healthcare or anything else relevant to your trip. To be safe, buy travel insurance that comes with healthcare before you travel.

Explore policy covers and benefits

Order foreign currency online

As well as taking your Card abroad, having local currency can offer flexibility when arriving at your destination.

If you’re planning to take cash, make sure you’re prepared, as some currencies may need ordering in advance. Depending on your destination, you may find you need travellers’ cheques or US dollars as backup.

You can also use your American Express Card to make withdrawals or transactions – since it’s accepted all around the world.

Order currency online

Provide traveller information

Your airline might need to collect certain personal details – Advance Passenger Processing (APP) information – about who’s travelling in your party. For example, their passport number, name and date of birth. This is usually done for security reasons and varies from country to country. APP should not affect your journey, but it’s useful to be aware of it.

Find out more about Advance Passenger Processing

Check in with your health care provider

Consult a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic to discuss vaccination or any other trip-related health concerns you might have.

Get vaccinated

You may need vaccinations for your trip, so speak to your doctor or nurse who will be able to advise you. Try to do this at least eight weeks before you travel, as some vaccinations need time to take effect, or require several doses.

Stock up on necessary medication

If you regularly take medication, make sure you have enough to cover your holiday period. It’s also useful to take a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor with you, for customs. Remember to check if your medication is legal and available in the place you’re visiting.

Check if you’re fit to travel

Pregnancy, recent surgery, epilepsy and fractures are some of the conditions that can affect your fitness to travel, so if you’re in any doubt at all, please check with your GP. Remember, you shouldn’t fly if you've been scuba diving in the last 40 hours, had an anaesthetic or dental treatment in the last 48 hours, or given blood in the last 24 hours.