Documents

Documents?? Aren’t they needed only for official/business trips? Yes, documents are mostly needed at business trips. We are not talking about those hardcore documents here. By documents, we are referring to some important papers that you must carry with you during your trips. There might be several rules and regulations of your destination that may be unknown to you. Sometimes, unknowingly, we fall into troubles which may be avoided if we have proper documents with us at all times.

What Documents?

Foremost on this list is your photo identity card with complete address. Always carry a photo id card that has your complete residential address. Digital form of tickets or bookings may be done with, but you are always required to produce the hard copy of your identity cards, passports, driving license, visa and permits.

Types of Documents

The type of documents that you need to carry may vary with the type of travel you are undergoing for example, domestic or international. The documents also vary according to your destination, like, in India you may only require your photo id and driving license most of the times. But, if you are visiting a border state in India like Ladakh or Nagaland or a scheduled area then some special documents like special permits might be required to be taken from the local authorities.

And if you are travelling outside of India then the number of documents increase. You are required to present you returning flight tickets also. Then you will have to show your accommodation details where you will be staying for your entire trip. Then there is Visa. Although, this might also vary from country to country, some countries require eVisa, some require Visa on Arrival and some do not require a Visa. You are always required to carry a certain amount of foreign currency, currency of the country you are travelling to. Immigration staff may ask you to show your proof of currency. If you plan to exchange currency at your destination, then you are required to show that you have as much money in your bank account.

Travel Insurance

Another important document is Travel Insurance. Some countries have made it mandatory for you to travel with a travel insurance with a minimum cover amount which is specified in their requirements. Always, check the regulatory travel guidelines of the particular country before travelling to it. Well, travel insurance is a useful product even without it being mandatory. It ensures that you are covered in case you need to visit a hospital outside of India. Medical expenses might be staggering in a foreign country. So, a travel insurance from a good insurance company will have you covered in case of any unfortunate event. These travel insurances also cover for lost or damaged baggage, delayed or cancelled flights etc. They are available at attractive prices and do not cost you an arm or a leg.

We have segregated the list of documents according to the type of journey you will undertake into the following categories:

Domestic

• Tickets
• Photo Identity cards with address
• Driving License (if you plan to rent a vehicle to drive)
• Permits for some special places like border areas (those permits might need passport size photos).

International

• Tickets (with returning)
• Passport
• Visa
• Accommodation Booking details/proof
• Currency proof
• Passport size photos required for visa on arrival cases
• Travel Insurance (not mandatory but preferable)
• Driving License (if you plan to rent a vehicle to drive)