Guidance

Foreign travel checklist

A checklist from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to help British people prepare for travelling and staying safe abroad.

Research your destination

  • get up-to-date advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences by checking foreign travel advice for the country you’re visiting

Get insured before you go

  • get appropriate travel insurance as soon as you book. Check that it covers the places you will visit, the duration of your visit and any planned activities such as adventure sports

  • tell your insurance company about any medical conditions, including undiagnosed conditions which are being investigated, and check that your policy will cover these

Check your documents for travel

Consider your health

Prepare for the unexpected

Contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)

You can contact the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate, or the FCDO in London 24 hours a day on 020 7008 5000 for advice. You should also read the privacy notice to see how the FCDO will process your data.

Feedback

We welcome your views on the support we provide, to help us to identify what we do well and what we could do better. Contact us using our feedback contact form.

Alternatively write to us:

Consular Feedback Team
Consular Directorate
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH

Or telephone +44 (0)20 7008 5000

Disclaimer

Our foreign travel checklist aims to help you plan for a trouble-free trip. It is not exhaustive. No foreign travel can be guaranteed as safe, and you take personal responsibility for your own travel. You can read the disclaimer relating to this guidance.

Updates to this page

Published 22 March 2013
Last updated 23 May 2025 show all updates
  1. Added item on spiked and contaminated drinks to 'Consider your health' section.

  2. Updated with links to guidance about the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning.

  3. Updated Foreign Travel Checklist

  4. Checklist has been reviewed and updated.

  5. Passports and visas section updated on passport validity.

  6. Updated checklist including travel information on COVID-19 and changes following the end of the UK-EU transition period.

  7. update to guidance on Heath section

  8. Added advice on phone IMEI number

  9. Revised checklist

  10. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page