Travel documents: what to check in advance

Most trouble at the border comes not from complicated rules but from small things that are easy to check at home.

Passport

Most countries require it to be valid for at least three months beyond your departure date, and some for six. Check this first: it is where people most often discover the document needs replacing.

Insurance

Compulsory for Schengen, with cover from 30,000 euros. Check whether it includes sport and chronic conditions if either applies to you.

Children

A child travelling with one parent or without either needs notarised consent. It has to be arranged in advance — it cannot be done on the day of departure.