A few years ago, I started keeping track of our travel history. Sure, it’s a good way to go down memory lane. But the main reason I started doing this was to always have a list of destinations we have visited handy as well. Who knows when this information will be required? It’s especially useful when we must enumerate all the countries we have visited in the past 5 or 10 years to get a visa, which is compulsory for visiting some countries.
Keep a list of countries visited
We will be traveling to India in a few weeks and we needed such a list for our Indian visa application. Luckily for us I had written down where we had traveled in my journals. So, I was able to go back in time for a complete list. Alternately, you can look at the stamps in your current and old passports. Tedious work, but necessary and depending on your travel history this list can be lengthy. This is even more difficult to unravel if you went on cruises. Here, each port of call could conceivably be in a different country and must be listed. Now that we have the details of our past travels, all I need to do is keep it up to date.
Be accurate
When filling out a visa application it’s of the utmost importance to be accurate and truthful since entry could be denied without the proper documents. Errors can also delay the procedures.
It’s our responsibility as travelers to check, well before our departure date, if a visa is needed and for how long after our trip our passports must be valid. For example, if the country you want to visit requires that your passport be valid for 6 months after your entry date and you didn’t check before leaving and you are one week short. Entry will likely be denied, and your vacation ruined!
This also applies when cruising unless otherwise specified. Disembarkation will be denied without proper documentation. Keep in mind that some passengers may not need a visa to visit a specific port while others do. It all depends on your nationality and where your passport was issued, not where you live. For example, if you’re a Canadian living in the United States and are traveling with a Canadian passport, you need to have the required documents for Canadian nationals. You will of course need your US documentation to come back to the US. But the countries visited will go with the passport you are using.
Do your own research
- We don’t rely on others (travel agent, tour operator, etc.) we do our own research to ensure that we have the proper information.
- We look on your Government’s travel advisory website and for the most accurate information check on the website of the country we want to visit.
- As we do not want to be denied entry to a place we wish to visit and discover, we don’t take chances regarding this matter. Can you imagine being turned away after landing in a foreign land?
This also applies for vaccination certificates and other requirements that may apply. Doing research before traveling and having the proper documentation are an essential part of preparing for travel. Vaccinations may have to be administered days or even weeks in advance.
Be sure to have a look at our Travel Tips
Happy and safe travels!
Related post:
Know Your Entry, Visa, Health, and Transit Requirements