What documents should I always carry with me in a foreign country?

Your passport is essential, but it is far from the only document worth carrying when travelling abroad.

Few things ruin the confidence of a traveller faster than discovering that the one document needed right now is sitting safely in a hotel room.

Your passport is the obvious starting point. When travelling abroad, South Africans should carry their valid South African passport and any required visa, study permit, work permit or residence permit. DIRCO specifically advises South Africans abroad to keep these documents with them.

A physical copy of your passport can also be useful.

Keep it separately from the original and consider storing a secure digital copy in encrypted cloud storage. Never rely solely on a photograph saved in your phone. Travel insurance documents deserve similar treatment. Your policy number, emergency contact details and insurer's assistance number should be accessible even when mobile data is unavailable.

Keep copies of your flight bookings and accommodation details too. They can be useful at border crossings, during check-in or if your phone decides to die at exactly the wrong moment.

If you are travelling with children, documentation becomes even more important. South African minors may need additional documents when entering or leaving the country, depending on the circumstances and current immigration requirements. Check the Department of Home Affairs requirements before departure rather than assuming a passport is sufficient.

Driving across Southern African borders introduces another layer. Carry your driving licence, vehicle registration documentation and any authorisation required if the vehicle is financed, rented or registered in someone else's name.

International driving permit requirements vary by country, so check the rules for every destination on your route. Medication is another consideration. If you travel with prescription medicine, carry it in its original packaging and keep a copy of the prescription or doctor's letter when appropriate. Some medicines that are ordinary in South Africa may be controlled elsewhere.

Emergency contacts should not live only inside your phone. Write down key numbers and keep them with your documents.

Make one physical document wallet and one secure digital folder. Keep originals protected while carrying only what you genuinely need during daily excursions.

The aim is not to walk around with a filing cabinet in your backpack. It is to make sure that if your luggage disappears, your phone fails, or an official asks for proof of something, you can produce the information without turning your holiday into an administrative crisis.