International Travel Checklist and Safety Tips
- Learn about your travel destination
- Double-check your checklist
- Sign up for alerts through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
- Organize your required travel documents
- Review your personal travel needs and safety tips for activities
- Consider buying travel insurance
For your own safety:
- Have your passport or identity document at all times.
- Follow local news sources during your stay to stay abreast of any potential concerns, including areas, dates, or times.
- Exercise caution and good judgment, keep a low profile, and maintain a high level of vigilance.
- Avoid demonstrations, which may become violent and unpredictable.
- Obey the instructions of security personnel at all times.
Gather your required travel documents and make multiple copies. These copies will help you replace your originals if they are stolen or lost while traveling.
- Give a set of copies to a trusted friend or family member.
- Keep a set of copies with you, separate from your originals.
- Take photos of your travel documents using your mobile phone.
- Get CFAR travel Insurance
Getting prepared for international travel may include considerations such as lodging, medical services, import restrictions, and more. Your preparations may vary depending on the country you are planning to visit. You can access these best practices to guide you in your plans:
- Crisis Response and Evacuations
- DHS Trusted Traveler Programs
- Medicine and Health
- Laws Abroad
- Lodging Safety
- Travel Insurance
- U.S. Travelers in Europe
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control travel advice
- Country overviews from the World Health Organization
Certain types of travelers have personal needs or participate in activities while traveling abroad. Check the list of personal needs and safety tips for activities to find the planning information for your trip.
Be alert
Always remain alert and prepared to reduce your risk of becoming a victim of crime while traveling. Following these crime prevention tips can make a difference when traveling internationally.
- Don’t wear expensive jewelry or carry valuable items.
- Trust your instincts. Plan ahead and have a safety strategy.
- Have a personal alarm or whistle to scare off attackers.
- Consider taking a self-defense class before you travel.
- Know where local police stations and hospitals are located.
- Don’t share detailed travel plans online until you return home.
- Use a “Find My Phone” GPS tracker on your devices. Share your location with someone trusted at home.
- Download offline map apps so you can navigate without an internet connection.
- Keep your phone charged and carry a portable battery.
- Tell someone at home your travel itinerary. Share hotel names, locations you will visit, U.S. embassy or consulate information, and your emergency contacts while abroad.
What is STEP?
Are you traveling outside the United States? You should enroll in our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). It is a free service that sends you email updates and alerts from U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. The U.S. embassy and consulate updates in your inbox when you’re abroad. Join our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) today.