{"id":11854,"date":"2018-10-08T10:00:20","date_gmt":"2018-10-08T14:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theprofessionalhobo.com\/?p=11854"},"modified":"2024-06-18T07:35:37","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T11:35:37","slug":"things-before-traveling-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theprofessionalhobo.com\/things-before-traveling-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"Things To Do Before Traveling Abroad: A Simple Guide to Visas, Documents, and Other Important Things"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I sometimes get emails from readers who are intimidated by all the things to do before traveling abroad, such as paperwork and documents they think they need to collect in order to travel the world. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s super important to have your documents and visas in order before you travel, it doesn\u2019t have to be overwhelming. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, I break down all the important documents you should prepare and much, much more.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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Table of Contents<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 1: How do Visas Work? Everything You Need to Know to Get Started<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 2: The Importance of Power of Attorney for Long-Term Travelers<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 3: How to Provide Onward Travel Proof When You Don\u2019t Know Your Travel Plans<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 4: The Benefits of an International Driving Permit<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 5: Prepping Your Other Official Documents for Long-Term Travel<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 6: How to Sell All Your Stuff So You Can Travel Light & Save Money<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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Chapter 1: How do Visas Work? Everything You Need to Know to Get Started<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve always gotten a lot of questions about how I manage visas for the countries I visit. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can seem overwhelming trying to navigate visas if you\u2019ve never done it before, so in this chapter, I cover the basics of tourist visas and how I live on them from country to country as a full-time traveler. <\/span>

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What is a Visa? <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It bears noting that I\u2019m using the word \u201cVisa\u201d liberally in this article. Depending on your citizenship and the country you\u2019re visiting, you won\u2019t actually need\/receive a \u201cvisa\u201d, and instead you\u2019ll just get a passport stamp authorizing your entry to the country for a certain amount of time. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A formal visa is obtained through an application process. This application process can be as simple as an online form and payment, or as complicated as multiple visits to consulates and relinquishing your passport for days or even weeks. It usually ends up as a piece of paper glued into your passport, but not always. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But again, for the purposes of this article, I\u2019m referring to visas as general permission to enter a country. <\/span>

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What type of visa do I get for long-term travel?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I tend to travel on tourist visas. (This means, when I fill out the immigration cards on arrival, I mark myself as traveling for the purposes of \u201ctourist\/vacation\/recreation\u201d). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I do this because immigration agents don\u2019t generally understand lifestyle travel, and saying you travel full-time or that you\u2019re a digital nomad tends to open up a can of worms that can negatively impact your ability to enter the country. When it comes to immigration agents, less is more. Keep it simple!  <\/span>

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Can I work location independently with a tourist visa?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yep. Well, more accurately \u2013 in many countries you can. It\u2019s a good deal for the country you\u2019re visiting: you\u2019re earning foreign dollars and spending them in their country. Immigration would be daft to say you can\u2019t enter!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But alas, sometimes they will. In some countries, you can\u2019t even volunteer without a working visa. Be sure to check the visa regulations before you go.<\/span>

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What are the requirements for a visa?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s entirely dependent on your country of citizenship and your destination country. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a global site showing basic visa information for citizens of any country to enter any country<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I tend to check the site above, before visiting my home country\u2019s government website for travelers abroad (<\/span>this site<\/span><\/a> for Canadians, <\/span>this one<\/span><\/a> for Americans) to cross-check entry requirements. These sites also provide comprehensive information like vaccination requirements and travel advisories. <\/span>

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My visa is only for 60 days. How do I stay longer?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Again this depends on your citizenship and where you\u2019re visiting. In some countries it\u2019s common for long-term travelers to do \u201cvisa runs\u201d where they cross the border for a day or so (sometimes as little as an hour) and re-enter the country on a fresh visa.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other countries allow you to extend your visa while you\u2019re in the country. Thailand for example (a <\/span>hotspot for digital nomads<\/span><\/a>), has a few visa options, one of which is to receive an automatic 30 days on arrival (technically a \u201cvisa-free entry\u201d), and to extend it at a local office for another 30 days. <\/span>Bali (Indonesia)<\/span><\/a> has a similar process. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other cases you can apply for a longer-than-normal visa in advance of visiting. I did this in Australia – which at the time was giving out standard three-month visas. I applied for six months on the basis of doing a <\/span>volunteer gig<\/span><\/a>; it required some extra paperwork and proof of the volunteer gig (in the form of a letter from my hosts). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And sometimes, there\u2019s no option (or at least, not an easy one). Read on. <\/span>

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I\u2019m visiting Europe. What\u2019s this Schengen Thing? <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Schengen agreement is likely to mess up your plans for Europe if you don\u2019t know about it. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, the Schengen area is a collection of 26 European countries that have no passport control at their borders. This makes it incredibly easy for travelers (Europeans and non-Europeans alike) to travel all over Western Europe. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citizens of Canada and the U.S. don\u2019t require an official visa to enter Schengen countries. (Citizens of some other countries do. Check out this site for <\/span>Schengen countries and visa information<\/span><\/a>). Instead, we get a stamp on arrival allowing us to stay for three months\u2026..and that\u2019s for <\/span>all the Schengen countries, combined<\/span><\/i>. So, if you wanted to spend six months traveling across Spain, France, and Germany, you\u2019re outta luck.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And there are no visa run opportunities either. Once you\u2019ve used up your three months, you need to stay out of the Schengen area for three months before you can return. The official language is that you can stay for 90 days in any 180-day period. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily the UK isn\u2019t part of the Schengen area, and they\u2019ll give you six months on arrival. So, if you\u2019ve used up your Schengen visa time, you can head to the UK or perhaps to Eastern Europe.  <\/span>

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What are the requirements for a longer visa application or visa extension?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The requirements vary, but often to stay a longer period of time as a tourist (even if you\u2019ve got a <\/span>location independent career<\/span><\/a>), you have to provide financial evidence (ie: <\/span>bank account<\/span><\/a> statements) showing you have enough money to support yourself for the visa period being applied for. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did this in both Australia and New Zealand, and in both cases I think I had to prove I had $1,000 in an account to cover living expenses for every month I wished to extend my visa.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back to Top^<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n


Chapter 2: The Importance of a Power of Attorney for Long-Term Travelers<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Having a designated representative at home is important when you\u2019re traveling long-term. They can help handle certain things for you on your behalf while you\u2019re abroad.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To take that concept even further, you can also assign them Power of Attorney.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this chapter, I discuss the importance of having a designated representative, what the Power of Attorney actually means, how it can be helpful to you as a traveler<\/a>, and the basics of how to make it happen.<\/span>

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Designate an Official Representative<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If something goes awry on the road, it\u2019s good to have somebody at home who is in your corner. <\/span>This person (in addition to being trustworthy and reliable) should have copies of all your ID and insurance policies and banking info. <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this information, they can do simple things like deposit cheques mailed to your home address, to more complicated tasks like advocating on your behalf with <\/span>travel insurance<\/span><\/a> companies in the event of a medical emergency, or even providing documents to your local consulate if you\u2019re stuck abroad and trying to replace your ID. <\/span>(All of this has happened to me)<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also give them Power of Attorney.<\/span>

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What is a Power of Attorney?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are two kinds of Power of Attorney \u2013 one for Property (ie: stuff), and one for Personal Care (ie: what to do if you\u2019re in a coma and can\u2019t express your wishes).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, we\u2019re discussing the <\/span>Power of Attorney for Property<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By assigning Power of Attorney for Property to somebody, <\/span>you\u2019re giving them the legal right to do just about anything on your behalf. So obviously you need to implicitly trust the person you\u2019re giving it to<\/b>. Although not imperative, this should be the same person you\u2019d be willing to give power of attorney for personal care to, or to assign as your executor for your will.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can a Power of Attorney help a traveler?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My designated representative (hi, Mum!) has helped me in the following ways while I\u2019ve been abroad:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n