International travel checklist: documents, plugs, money and kids

3 months or more before you go: passports

Check every expiry date, especially the kids'

Start here, because it has the longest lead time. Open every passport in the house and check the date.

• Children's US passports (under 16) are valid for only 5 years, so they expire much sooner than adults' 10-year passports (travel.state.gov).
• A child's passport can't be renewed. Each new one is a fresh in-person application on form DS-11.
• Both parents or guardians normally need to appear in person with a child under 16. If one can't, they can sign a notarized Form DS-3053 statement of consent, which must be submitted within 90 days of signing.
• Processing times vary through the year. Check current times on travel.state.gov and apply early.

Know which validity rule applies

There are two different rules, and people mix them up:

1. Schengen area (most of Europe): your passport must be valid at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area, and issued within the last 10 years (Your Europe).
2. The "6-month rule": some countries require at least 6 months of validity beyond your travel dates, and some airlines and cruise lines apply it too. The State Department notes that some countries require it (State Department checklist).

To be safe, many travelers renew once a passport has less than 6 months left. Always check your destination's page on travel.state.gov for its exact rule.

2 to 4 weeks before: entry permits and paperwork

Visas and electronic travel authorizations

• United Kingdom: ETA required. Since February 25, 2026, visitors from visa-free countries, including the US, Canada and EU countries, need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before they travel, and airlines won't board you without one (GOV.UK). It costs £20, lasts 2 years or until the passport expires, and every traveler needs their own, including children. Apply through gov.uk/eta or the official UK ETA app, at least 3 working days ahead. Other sites may charge more and can't speed it up.
• European Union: ETIAS is not live yet. No start date has been set. The EU says it will announce the date several months before launch, and member-state guidance currently points to 2027. Right now there's nothing to apply for and nothing to pay (official ETIAS site). Any site asking for an ETIAS payment today is not official.
• Coming to the US from abroad? Travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries need an approved ESTA. Apply only at esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
• Everywhere else: check the entry requirements on your destination's travel.state.gov page or with its embassy.

Kids traveling without both parents

The State Department says that if you're traveling with children without one or both parents, you may need custody documents or a notarized letter of permission from the other parent, even if one parent is traveling. A typical consent letter includes:

• The child's full name and date of birth
• The traveling adult's name and relationship to the child
• Travel dates and destinations
• The absent parent's contact details and signature, notarized

Some countries have specific forms. Check your destination's page.

Health, insurance and driving

• Medications: some US prescription and even over-the-counter medicines are illegal in other countries. Check your destination's health section before you go, and bring copies of prescriptions and medicines in labeled bottles.
• Insurance: US health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, usually doesn't cover care abroad. Consider travel medical insurance that covers emergencies and evacuation.
• Driving: many countries don't accept a US license on its own, so you may need an International Driving Permit. Bring or reserve car seats for kids, since rules and rental availability vary by country.
• STEP: enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for embassy alerts and so the embassy can reach you in an emergency.

1 week before: money, phones and copies

Money

• Tell your bank and card issuers you're traveling, or set a travel notice in their app.
• Check foreign transaction fees. A card without them saves money on every purchase.
• Carry a backup card, stored separately from your main one.
• Get some local cash for day one: taxis, tips, snacks and places that don't take cards.

Phones and data

• Set up an eSIM, a local SIM or an international plan before you go, and check what your carrier charges.
• Download offline maps for every city you'll visit.
• Download a translation app and its offline language pack. Camera translation is a lifesaver for menus and signs.
• Save bookings and tickets offline.

Copies of everything

The State Department suggests making multiple copies: one set with a trusted person at home, one set with you (separate from the originals), and photos on your phone. Do it for every traveler, including the kids.

Plugs and voltage

Most phone, tablet and laptop chargers are rated 100 to 240 V (check the label), so they only need a plug adapter. Hair dryers, straighteners and other heating appliances are often single-voltage and need a voltage converter, or are better left at home.

Source: World Standards, checked October 2026. Hotels sometimes have a mix, so a universal adapter is the safest bet.

One adapter with USB ports per adult usually covers a family's nightly charging. Note that cruise lines often ban multi-outlet adapters and power strips, so check if you're sailing.

Packing for kids abroad

Baby (under 12 months)

Pack enough formula in a brand your baby takes. Brands and formulations differ abroad, so don't assume you can buy the same one. Bring the full diaper count for remote areas and the first few days elsewhere. A baby needs their own passport, including a photo of them alone (no hands holding them in the shot).

Toddler (1 to 3)

Bring a familiar snack supply for the first days, a stroller that handles cobblestones and stairs (or a carrier), the comfort item, and a travel crib sheet. Jet lag hits toddlers hard, so pack a sleep routine kit: sound machine, night light and the bedtime book.

Kid (4 to 8)

A small backpack with activities for the flight, headphones and a water bottle. Put a card with your phone number and hotel name in their pocket.

Tween (9 to 12)

Their own adapter and power bank, a phone plan that works abroad (or Wi-Fi-only rules), and a copy of the itinerary. Let them learn a few phrases in the local language.

For the flight itself, see our packing list for a toddler flight.

What parents forget

What parents forget: the kids' passport expiry date. Five years goes fast. Check it before you book.

What parents forget: the consent letter. Traveling solo with your kids? An airline or border officer can ask for it.

What parents forget: the UK ETA for the baby. Every traveler needs their own, including children.

What parents forget: the converter for hair tools. An adapter changes the plug shape, not the voltage.

What parents forget: local cash for the first taxi. Not every airport taxi takes cards.

How Packworthy helps abroad

Packworthy gives every traveler their own list inside one shared family trip, so each child's documents and essentials have a home and nobody's passport is assumed to be in someone else's bag. For international trips it adds "Passport or ID" to the list, and an outlet adapter if you ask for one. Visa and entry-permit prompts and metric units are coming soon, so for now use the timeline above for the paperwork.

FAQ

What is the 6-month passport rule? Some countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates, and some airlines enforce it. It's different from the Schengen rule in Europe, which requires 3 months beyond your departure date and a passport issued within the last 10 years. Check your destination's rule on travel.state.gov.

Do I need an ETA to visit the UK? Yes, if you're from a visa-free country like the US or Canada. The UK has required an Electronic Travel Authorisation since February 25, 2026. It costs £20, lasts 2 years or until your passport expires, and each traveler, including children, needs one. Apply on gov.uk or the official app.

Do I need ETIAS to travel to Europe right now? No. ETIAS is not in operation yet, and no start date has been announced (it's expected in 2027 at the earliest). There's nothing to apply for or pay right now, so ignore sites asking for an ETIAS fee.

Do I need a power adapter or a converter? Most phone and laptop chargers work on 100 to 240 V and only need a plug adapter. Single-voltage appliances like many hair dryers need a converter or should stay home.

Does my child need a letter to travel with one parent? It may be required. The State Department says you may need a notarized letter of permission from the other parent or custody documents, even when one parent is traveling.

Related guides

• Packing list for a toddler flight
• Carry-on only packing list
• Most forgotten items when packing