Visas and Vaccinations

The V thing – Visas and Vaccinations

Do your research before you go…

A lot of countries you visit will require you to have a Visa.  You may be able to get a typical tourist type visa for 30 days or so, but if you are travelling longer than this, do some research.  This  handy little tool from BootsnAll will help you work out if you need a visa or not.

If you are getting one on arrival you may need a passport sized photo of yourself – get some extras and carry them in your money pouch.

If you are required to mail your passport in order to get a visa,  make sure you get certified mail with tracking options.

For detailed visa information Click Here.

You can also check out visa requirements by visiting each country’s Embassy website or visit Travisa for easy access to all country requirements.

Vaccinations

For your international travel vaccinations, visit your local travel clinic well before you have to leave.

Try to do this at least 2-3 months before you leave. Depending on where you are going, you may need some immunizations or medications.  It’s also a good idea to take a kit from the doctor including needles in case you need an injection.

Common vaccinations include:

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

Meningitis

Yellow Fever

Tetanus

Typhoid/Diphtheria

MMR booster (measles, mumps and rubella)

Polio and Cholera

Japanese encephalitis

They are all pretty costly, in N Z ours cost around $450 per person.

To read a great article on overseas travel vaccinations: Click Here.

For protection against malaria when we visited the Amazon we used Malarone which was expensive but we didn’t have to take it for weeks after which was good. There are other options, but once again please consult your doctor. If going to infected areas, such as Africa, it’s a good idea to also carry a mosquito net.

These are cheap, take up no space in your backpack, and are very light to carry. You can hang them over your bed. Also, wear long sleeve clothes when necessary and use repellent.

For detailed facts on Malaria click here.

Helpful Hints:

Keep a record of your vaccinations AND CARRY THIS WITH YOU WHEN YOU TRAVEL.  It’s hard to remember what you have had and when you need your boosters etc…

For Credible Health Information online, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, and the World Health Organization vaccinations country specific details.

Have you had any issues/fun with visas,vaccinations?
Share your experience and travel tips in the comments section below!