Entry and travel documents: check them before departure

• Only current information from the relevant official authorities is binding.
• Requirements may depend on your nationality, purpose of travel, and route of entry.
• Check your passport, any required permits, and supporting documents together.
• Travel documents should be available digitally and through a second means.
• If in doubt, it is better to ask well in advance than to make assumptions.
• Depending on your trip, insurance documents may be a useful addition.

Start with the official authorities in your destination and transit countries. There you can check the requirements for your passport, type of trip, and planned route. The information on the Russian visa highlights the questions to clarify before traveling; for entry, however, the current requirements set by the relevant authorities are binding. The Russia travel tips are also a helpful addition to destination planning, but they are not an authoritative source.

Organize your passport, itinerary, booking confirmations, and any other required documents so they are easy to find while traveling. An offline copy can help if you cannot access your email or cloud storage. If your journey takes you through a major city, you can combine route planning with your document check: Prague, Vilnius, and Sofia are existing destination pages that can help you prepare for arrival and onward travel using specific examples.

Requirements may apply not only to your final destination. Check layovers and possible transit countries against your actual itinerary. For trips to Russia or Ukraine, in particular, remember that general guidance is no substitute for a current, individual check. Keeping your documents clearly organized makes it easier to ask the relevant authorities precise questions.

Which supporting documents are useful or required depends on your trip and destination. The existing page on travel insurance for Russia is an example of why it is best not to wait until a problem arises to look for your insurance documents. For binding requirements, however, rely on the current official guidance.

Where can I find authoritative entry information?

From the relevant official authorities in your destination and, where applicable, transit countries.

Can I use a previous trip as a guide?

No. Requirements can change or differ depending on the specific purpose of your trip.

Should I print out my documents?

An extra copy can be useful. What matters is that you can reliably access the documents you need.

What should I check when traveling with a layover?

As well as your destination, check the requirements for the transit route you actually plan to take.