Travel Document Checklist
The paperwork side of any trip — passports, visas, insurance, bookings, boarding passes and vaccination proof. Tick off every document before you fly, and check your passport meets the 6-month rule that catches travellers out.
Passport Validity Checker
Enter your passport expiry date to check it against the common 6-month rule.
Checked against your return date.
Passports & Photo ID
Visas & Entry Requirements
Travel Insurance
Bookings & Reservations
Boarding Passes & Transport
Health & Vaccination
Money & Cards
Copies & Backups
About Travel Document Checklist
The Travel Document Checklist covers the part of trip planning that actually stops people at the airport — the paperwork. While a packing checklist worries about clothes and chargers, this tool focuses purely on documents: passports and photo ID, visas and entry permits, travel insurance, flight and hotel bookings, boarding passes, vaccination proof, money and cards, and backup copies. Each category comes pre-filled with the documents most travellers need, and a progress bar shows how close you are to being fully sorted before departure.
Its standout feature is the built-in Passport Validity Checker. Enter your passport expiry date and the tool compares it against your return date and the widely-applied "valid for at least 6 months beyond your trip" rule — the single most common reason travellers are turned away at check-in or the border. You'll get a clear verdict: good to go, renew soon, or already a problem. Everything saves automatically to your browser's local storage — no account, no sign-up, nothing sent to a server. Use Download PDF to print a document checklist for the whole family, and pair this with the Packing Checklist for everything else you need to bring.
How to Use Travel Document Checklist
- Name your trip and set your departure and return dates — the header counts down the days to departure.
- Enter your passport expiry date in the Passport Validity Checker. Do this first: if you need to renew, it can take weeks and everything else depends on it.
- Work through each category. Remove any document that doesn't apply with the trash icon, and add trip-specific ones (a particular visa, a permit) using the "Add a document" field.
- Check the entry requirements for your specific nationality and destination — visa, ETA/ESTA, onward ticket and proof of funds rules vary widely.
- Tick off each document as you secure it — booked, printed, downloaded, or saved to your phone — and watch the progress bar fill.
- Make digital and paper backups of everything in the Copies & Backups section, and store them separately from the originals.
- Use Download PDF to print a master checklist for the family, and Export to back up or carry your checklist to another device.
Tip: photograph your passport, visas, insurance policy and bookings and email them to yourself. If anything is lost or stolen abroad, having the details to hand makes replacement far faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the passport 6-month rule?
Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry or departure — not just for the length of your stay. Airlines enforce it at check-in, so an otherwise-valid passport can still get you turned away. The Passport Validity Checker on this page compares your expiry date against your return date and warns you if you fall short, but always confirm the exact rule for your destination, as some require three months and a few require none.
How is this different from the packing checklist?
The packing checklist handles physical things you put in a bag — clothes, toiletries, chargers, adapters. This tool handles documents and admin: passports, visas, insurance, bookings, boarding passes and vaccination proof. They're complementary; most travellers use both. Keeping documents on their own focused list means the critical paperwork doesn't get buried under "pack socks".
Do I still need printed copies if everything is on my phone?
It's strongly recommended. Phones run out of battery, lose signal, or get lost or stolen. Some borders, hotels and car-hire desks still ask for paper, and a printed boarding pass or visa confirmation is a cheap insurance policy. Keep digital copies in your phone wallet and cloud, plus paper backups stored separately from the originals.
When should I sort each document?
Check your passport and any visa requirements as soon as you book — renewals and visa applications can take weeks. Buy travel insurance the day you book so cancellation cover starts immediately. Boarding passes are usually available 24–48 hours before the flight. Working backwards from your departure date, with the countdown on this page, keeps everything on schedule.
Can I add documents or remove ones I don't need?
Yes. Use the "Add a document" field at the bottom of any category to add trip-specific items — a specific visa, a pet passport, a parental consent letter — and hover any item to reveal the trash icon to remove what doesn't apply. Your changes save automatically.
Is my data private?
Yes. Your trip details, dates, passport expiry and checklist are stored only in your browser's local storage on this device. Nothing — including your passport expiry date — is uploaded to any server, and there's no account. Clearing your browser data removes the saved checklist, so keep a JSON export or the PDF if you need a copy.
Does it work offline?
Once the page has loaded, your checklist lives in local storage and works offline — handy for a final review at the airport. Open it on the same device where you saved it; your data only moves between devices if you Export and Import it.