Advice for travelling abroad

Passport and visa advice

Always keep your passport safe and up-to-date.

Make sure that you check the entry requirements of the country you’re going to visit, including if a visa is needed, before you travel.

Check if you need extra documents if travelling with a child.

If your passport is lost or stolen while abroad, you will need to apply for an emergency travel document.

British passport holders

There is detailed advice and information at these links:

• Passports(external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Foreign travel advice and country entry requirements (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Cancel a lost or stolen passport (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Travel urgently from abroad without your passport (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Travelling to the EU and Schengen area (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Travelling to the USA (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Get permission to take a child abroad (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Irish passport holders

There is detailed advice and information at these links:

• Passports  (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Visas (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Lost or stolen passport (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Travelling with children (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Travel advice

Check the travel advice pages for the country you’re visiting.

• Foreign travel advice and country entry requirements (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Travel advice (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Travel abroad (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Safety and security (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Security ratings (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Tell family and friends where you're going and leave them your contact details, insurance policy details, and your itinerary and/ or store them online securely.

There is advice at these links:

• Foreign travel checklist (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Know before you go (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Solo and independent travel(external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Advice for women travelling abroad (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Female travellers (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• LGBT+ travel advice (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• LGBTQI+ travellers (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Travel abroad by sea (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Arctic travel safety advice (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Festivals in Europe: travel checklist (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Check your driving licence is current and valid, whether you will need a permit, and be aware of the driving laws in the country you're visiting. 

If you’re thinking of backpacking or volunteering abroad, there is advice and information:

• Volunteering and adventure travel (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Backpacking, volunteering and adventure tourism (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Health and travel insurance

Check what you need to do about health and travel insurance.

Research the health risks on the travel health information website(external link opens in a new window / tab) as soon as possible before travelling.

Check well before your trip if you need vaccinations(external link opens in a new window / tab).

Make sure you protect yourself from the sun.

Money 

You should:

• check expiry dates on your credit or debit card(s)
• tell your bank about your travel plans
• have enough money to cover emergencies and any unexpected delays

Think about taking more than one means of payment with you (cash, pre-paid travel card, debit card, credit card) and check which works out cheapest.

If your credit or debit card(s) are lost or stolen, cancel them.

There is information at these links:

• Your finances when travelling abroad(external link opens in a new window / tab)

When you are abroad

Be aware of the local customs and dress, and obey local laws. There may be serious penalties for breaking a law that might seem trivial at home.

Find out where the nearest embassy or consulate is, its contact details, check what services it offers and its opening times.

If your passport or valuables are stolen abroad, report it at once to the local police and get a statement. You will need one to claim against your travel insurance.

There is a range of information and advice.

• Find a British embassy, high commission or consulate (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Help and services around the world (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Get help if you’re a victim of crime abroad (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Assistance abroad (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Irish embassies and consulates abroad (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Local laws and customs (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Crime and reporting a crime (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Returning home

Check import regulations for food and plants before you try to bring them back and the HM Revenue and Customs information on duty-free allowances(external link opens in a new window / tab), banned goods and so on.

• Bringing goods into NI for personal use (external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Options when customs seizes your things (external link opens in a new window / tab)

More useful links

• Air travel
• Travel or do business in Europe(external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Travelling to the EU, EEA, or Switzerland for work(external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA)(external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO)(external link opens in a new window / tab)
• Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA)(external link opens in a new window / tab)