International Travel Packing List
By the NanoPack team · Updated on · Checked against official sources
What to pack for international travel: documents first. Carry a passport valid for at least six months beyond your trip, any visa or entry authorisation your destination requires, and both printed and photographed copies of it all. Add the right plug adapter and a voltage-aware charger, your medication in its original packaging in your carry-on with a copy of the prescription, some local currency and a card with no foreign fees, and your travel insurance details. Then pack a mixable, weather-appropriate wardrobe and a small day bag.
International Travel essentials at a glance
- Passport valid 6+ months, plus copies
- Any visa or entry authorisation
- The right plug adapter for your destination
- Medication in your carry-on, original packaging
- Local currency and a no-foreign-fee card
- Travel insurance details
- Copies of documents on your phone
- A power bank and spare cables
Crossing a border stacks paperwork and logistics on top of a normal trip, and it is almost always the paperwork, not the packing, that goes wrong: an expired passport, a visa nobody checked, a charger that will not fit the wall. Sort the documents, the money and the power first, keep copies of everything somewhere you can reach them, and the rest is the same mixable wardrobe you would take on any trip.
Documents and money
- A passport valid 6+ months beyond your return
- Any visa or entry authorisation your destination needs
- Printed itinerary and bookings, saved offline
- A card with no foreign transaction fees
- Some local currency for arrival
- Travel insurance policy and emergency numbers
- Photocopies and phone photos of your passport and cards · kept separately from the originals
Health
- Any medication in original packaging, in your carry-on
- A copy of your prescription and the generic drug names
- A small first-aid and stomach-upset kit
- Motion-sickness remedy
- Any required vaccination certificate
- Insect repellent where it is needed
- Hand sanitiser
Power and tech
- The right plug adapter for your destination
- Chargers rated 100 to 240 volts · check the label before you rely on them
- A power bank
- Phone with offline maps and a translation app
- A local eSIM or a roaming plan
- Spare charging cables
Clothing
- A mixable, weather-appropriate wardrobe
- One layer for cool evenings and cold planes
- Comfortable broken-in shoes
- Modest clothing for religious sites
- Sleepwear and swimwear if relevant
- A compact rain layer
Your carry-on
- Medication, documents and valuables
- A change of clothes in case bags are delayed
- Chargers and a power bank
- An empty water bottle to fill after security
- A neck pillow and eye mask for long flights
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- Snacks
Toiletries
- Travel-size toiletries in carry-on limits
- Toothbrush, deodorant and skincare
- Sunscreen
- Anything hard to buy at your destination
- Contact lenses and spare glasses
What not to pack
- A passport that expires soon · many countries refuse entry within six months of expiry; renew early
- All your cards and cash in one place · split them across bags in case one is lost or stolen
- Medication in checked luggage · it goes in your carry-on, in original packaging
- Valuables and irreplaceable items
- A 110V-only charger for a 230V country · check the label reads 100-240V or it can fry
Packing tips and mistakes to avoid
Check your passport's six-month rule
Many destinations refuse entry if your passport expires within six months of your travel dates, and some require blank pages. Check your passport's expiry and your destination's rules before you book, because renewals take time.
Photograph and split your documents
Save a photo of your passport, any visa, your insurance and your cards on your phone and email them to yourself, then split your physical cards and cash across different bags. A lost wallet then costs you an afternoon, not the trip.
Match your chargers to the destination
Know your destination's plug type and voltage. A universal adapter plus chargers rated 100 to 240 volts covers most of the world, and a power bank keeps you going through airports and long days out.
Keep medication legal and labelled
Carry medication in your carry-on in its original packaging with a copy of the prescription, and check whether any of it is restricted at your destination, because some common medicines are banned in some countries.
The things people forget
- Copies of your documents on your phone and in your email
- A card with no foreign transaction fees
- The right plug adapter for your destination
- Some local currency for the moment you land
What people wish they had packed
- A universal adapter you can use anywhere
- An empty water bottle to fill after security
- A neck pillow for the long flight
- A spare pair of glasses
Frequently asked questions
What do you need to pack for international travel?
A passport valid at least six months beyond your trip, any visa or entry authorisation, copies of your documents, the right plug adapter, medication in your carry-on, local currency and a no-foreign-fee card, travel insurance details, and a mixable weather-appropriate wardrobe.
How many months should your passport be valid?
For many countries, at least six months beyond your planned departure date, and some also require one or two blank pages. Always check your specific destination's rule well before you travel, as renewals can take weeks.
What should you never pack in checked luggage for international travel?
Your passport and documents, medication, valuables, chargers and a change of clothes. Checked bags can be delayed or lost, so anything essential or hard to replace belongs in your carry-on.
What do people forget for international travel?
Copies of their documents, a card with no foreign transaction fees, the right plug adapter, some local currency for arrival, and a charger that works on the local voltage.