Ultimate Checklist: What to Do Before Traveling Abroad in 2026

International travel requires long-term planning. Forgetting an expiring passport, an unprocessed visa, or an unpurchased insurance — any slip-up can be costly or even prevent boarding. This checklist organizes everything in a timeline from 90 days before the trip to the moment of boarding.

📅 90 days before: documentation

✅ Passport

• Minimum validity: 6 months from the date of entry into the destination country
• Renewal/issuance: schedule at the Federal Police (current processing time: 6 days to 3 months)
• Cost: R$ 257.25 (regular)
• Photos: 5×7 cm, white background, 6 months validity

✅ Visa (if required)

• USA: B1/B2 visa, interview at the consulate (scheduling can take months). Cost US$185.
• Canada: eTA online (if eligible) or visa.
• Australia: free eVisitor online.
• China: traditional visa (processing time 1-2 weeks).
• Russia, India: electronic or traditional visa.

Check out our guide on 15 countries without a visa for Brazilians.

✅ Electronic authorizations (status April 2026)

• United Kingdom (ETA): mandatory for Brazilians since January 2025. Cost £20 (adjusted in April 2026). Valid for 2 years.
• Europe (EES): already in effect since April 10, 2026. At the Schengen border, Brazilians undergo biometric registration (photo + fingerprints). No cost or prior application needed.
• Europe (ETIAS): expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026. Transition period until April 2027. Cost €20. As of April 2026, no application is needed yet.
• South Korea (K-ETA): mandatory since April 2022. Cost US$10.
• USA: Brazilians do not use ESTA — they need a B1/B2 visa. Total cost ~US$459 (MRV + integrity fee + I-94). Scheduling: 15 days to 2 months.

📅 60 days before: planning

✅ Flight ticket

• Buy in advance — best prices 3-6 months ahead
• Compare on Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak
• Consider flying on Wednesday — historically the cheapest day
• Check baggage policy (Gol vs Azul vs Latam vs international airlines)

✅ Vaccinations

• Yellow fever: mandatory for some destinations (Australia, Sub-Saharan Africa). Request International Certificate of Vaccination (CIVP) at Anvisa (free).
• COVID-19: still required in some countries. Check when booking the flight.
• Others: hepatitis A/B, typhoid, rabies (Southeast Asia, Africa).
• Vaccinations should be taken 10-30 days before the trip.

✅ Accommodation

• Book on Booking, Airbnb, or Hostelworld with free cancellation — flexibility is valuable
• For 2-3 weeks, it’s worth combining hotel + Airbnb
• Check recent reviews (last 3 months)
• In expensive cities (Tokyo, Paris, London), book 2+ months in advance

📅 30 days before: logistics

✅ Travel insurance

• Mandatory: Schengen Europe (minimum coverage €30,000), Cuba, Turkey (some modalities)
• Highly recommended: Japan, USA (high healthcare costs), Southeast Asia
• Coverages to check: medical/hospital, cancellation, baggage loss, repatriation
• Price: R$ 15-40/day depending on the plan

✅ Currency exchange

• Split into 3-4 purchases on different dates to get varied exchange rates
• Carry little cash (~US$200-300 for emergencies)
• Use Wise card for ATM withdrawals with real exchange rate
• International credit card (Visa/Mastercard) is accepted in 99% of places
• Notify your bank that you will be traveling (prevents card blocking for "suspicious purchase")

✅ Apps on your phone

• Download Google Maps (offline city map), Google Translate (offline language)
• Download Uber/Bolt/Grab (depending on the country)
• Download WhatsApp, Booking, airline app
• Check out our guide on 20 essential travel apps

📅 15 days before: final details

✅ eSIM / internet at the destination

• Confirm your phone's compatibility with eSIM → see list
• Purchase the Easy Chip eSIM in advance (install before traveling)
• Choose plan: local (1 country), regional (e.g., Europe 39 countries), global (100+)
• Receive QR code via email and install at home with Wi-Fi
• See how eSIM works

✅ Notify institutions

• Bank/card: inform travel dates in the app or by phone
• Mobile carrier: DISABLE automatic roaming (otherwise connects to the local network and charges high fees)
• Post office: if long trip, request a pause in mail delivery
• Work: out-of-office activated

✅ Emergency contacts

• Brazilian consulate: official Itamaraty app (register your trip — if something happens, the Brazilian government can locate you)
• List emergency phone numbers (Brazilian consulate at the destination) on your phone

📅 7 days before: final preparation

✅ Online check-in

• Some airlines open check-in 48h before, others 24h
• Online check-in ensures better seats and issues boarding pass on your phone
• Save the boarding pass in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet

✅ Print important documents

• Passport (copy)
• Flight ticket (outbound + return)
• Accommodation reservation
• Travel insurance (policy)
• Vaccination certificate
• Contact of the Brazilian consulate

Keep copies on your phone (photos in Google Drive/iCloud) AND printed (in case your phone runs out of battery).

✅ Suitcase: essential checklist

Documents (carry-on): passport, wallet with cash, cards, hotel confirmation, phone, chargers.

Clothes: depends on the weather — check the forecast for the destination.

Electronics: universal charger, power adapter (USA = type A, Europe = type C/F, UK = type G, Japan = type A).

Personal hygiene: personal medications (with prescription in English), toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant.

Accessories: reusable bottle (empty at the airport), lock for backpack, small backpack for outings.

📅 1 day before

✅ Final review

• Weigh your suitcase (check-in usually up to 23kg, carry-on 7-10kg)
• Confirm flight time (airlines may change)
• Confirm hotel address and how to get there from the airport
• Charge your phone to 100% the night before
• Get a good night's sleep! Travel day is tiring

🛫 On the day of the flight

✅ At the airport (3h before for international flights)

• Check-in (if you haven't done it online) or baggage drop-off
• X-ray with liquids in containers of up to 100ml in the carry-on
• Passport control (Brazilian immigration)
• Duty-free shopping if desired (lower taxes)
• Wait at the gate 30 min in advance

✅ At the destination immigration

• Have ready: passport, return ticket, hotel reservation, proof of funds
• Disembarkation card: some countries still use it (fill out on the plane)
• Be polite and direct: "tourism", "10 days", "Tokyo/Paris/New York"

Upon arrival at the destination

✅ Activate the eSIM

1. Connect to the airport Wi-Fi
2. Go to Settings → Cellular/SIM → Select the Easy Chip eSIM
3. Activate Mobile Data and Data Roaming
4. Wait 1-2 min to connect to the local network
5. Open WhatsApp and let your family know you arrived safely

✅ Arrive at the hotel

• Uber / official taxi (never accept taxi drivers who approach you)
• Confirm reservation at the reception
• Store passport in the hotel safe

During the trip: smart habits

• Take a photo of your passport and store it in Google Drive (backup)
• Never carry a single card — always have 2 cards + some cash in separate places
• Use Google Maps to plan daily routes
• Buy snacks at local markets (not at tourist attractions)
• Drink plenty of water (long flights dehydrate)

Visual summary: quick checklist

📝 90 days before: Passport ✓ Visa ✓

📝 60 days before: Flight ✓ Vaccinations ✓ Accommodation ✓

📝 30 days before: Travel insurance ✓ Currency exchange ✓ Apps ✓

📝 15 days before: eSIM ✓ Notify bank/work ✓ Brazilian consulate ✓

📝 7 days before: Online check-in ✓ Print docs ✓ Suitcase ✓

📝 1 day before: Review ✓ Phone charged ✓ Sleep well ✓

🛫 Day of the flight: Airport 3h before ✓ Smooth immigration ✓

Organize everything in one place

You can handle all of this on your own — or leave the complicated parts to those who understand. Facilita Travel Pass organizes flight + hotel + insurance + attractions in a complete package, with personal consulting. And the internet at the destination can be quickly resolved with an eSIM from Easy Chip (install before boarding).

Now just choose your destination, follow the checklist, and enjoy.