Passport, visa, currency, insurance, connectivity. A plain-English checklist for first-time travellers from India.
A first international trip has a handful of moving parts, and almost all of the anxiety comes from not knowing the order to do them in. Here is the order.
First, your passport. It needs at least six months of validity beyond your return date, and most visa applications also require two blank pages. If yours expires within nine months, renew before you do anything else.
Second, the visa. Some destinations — the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia — offer visa on arrival or quick e-visas for Indian passport holders. Others, including Singapore, Dubai and the Schengen zone, need applications submitted in advance. Apply at least six weeks out for anything requiring an appointment.
Third, the money. Get foreign currency or a forex card before you fly; airport exchange counters are reliably the worst rate you will get. Tell your bank you are travelling so your card is not blocked.
Fourth, insurance. It is inexpensive and it is the difference between an inconvenience and a crisis. Make sure it covers your specific activities if you plan to dive, trek or ski.
Fifth, connectivity. An international roaming pack or a local e-SIM is cheaper than you think, and offline maps are worth downloading before you land.
Finally, documents. Carry printed copies of your return ticket, hotel vouchers, insurance policy and visa. Immigration officers ask for them more often than people expect.
If this feels like a lot, that is exactly what we are here for. We handle visas, bookings and documentation for every international trip we plan.
