The night-before documents checklist

Core documents

• Passport — valid for the period required, with blank pages for stamps.
• Arrival card — filled in legibly, or prepared digitally if offered.
• Visa or exemption evidence — if your nationality or trip requires it.
• Return or onward ticket — showing you intend to leave within your permitted stay.
• Accommodation details — hotel name, address and the first night’s booking.
• Proof of funds — occasionally requested; a card or statement is fine.

Details people forget

Print at least one paper copy of your key bookings, charge your phone, and store a photo of your passport and visa in your email. Save your airline and hotel phone numbers offline. If you travel with medication, carry the prescription. If you are visiting for work, keep a short letter describing the purpose of your trip. None of this is complicated; it is simply easy to leave until the last minute.

Consistency is the whole game

Every document should agree. The name on your ticket matches the passport. The dates on your arrival card match the booking. The address on the form is legible and the same one you will actually stay at. When we review a traveler’s paperwork, consistency is the first thing we check and the thing that most often saves a traveler trouble.