Travel Health Checklist for UK Travellers

Good travel health prep isn’t complicated, but it’s easy to leave until the last minute. Use this checklist to make sure nothing important slips through the cracks.

8+ Weeks Before You Travel

• Book a travel health consultation
• Check whether your destination requires yellow fever vaccination
• Check whether you need malaria tablets, and which ones suit you
• Confirm you’re up to date on routine UK vaccines (tetanus, diphtheria, polio, MMR)
• Start any multi-dose vaccine courses (rabies, Japanese encephalitis, hepatitis B)
• Check your driving licence covers you if you plan to drive abroad, and apply for an International Driving Permit if needed

2–4 Weeks Before You Travel

• Complete any remaining vaccine doses
• Collect your antimalarial tablets, if needed, and check the correct starting date
• Check your passport is valid for your destination’s entry requirements (many countries require 6 months’ validity)
• Organise travel insurance, and check it covers any pre-existing health conditions
• Request extra prescription medication if you’ll be away longer than your usual supply

Packing Your Travel Health Kit

• Any prescription medications, in original packaging, with a covering letter from your GP or pharmacist if travelling with controlled substances
• Basic painkillers (paracetamol, ibuprofen)
• Rehydration sachets
• Anti-diarrhoeal medication
• Antihistamines
• Plasters and a small first aid kit
• Insect repellent (DEET-based, for malaria/dengue-risk destinations)
• Sun protection (SPF 30+, higher for children or sensitive skin)
• Hand sanitiser
• A copy of your vaccination record and yellow fever certificate, if applicable

Before You Fly: Final Checks

• Check your destination’s current entry requirements (these can change)
• Check airport security rules if carrying liquid medication or needles
• Pack essential medication in your hand luggage, not checked baggage
• Know the location of the nearest hospital or clinic at your destination, especially for remote trips
• Save emergency contact numbers for your travel insurance and destination’s emergency services
• Let your bank know your travel dates, so card payments abroad aren’t flagged or blocked

During Your Trip

• Stick to safe food and water practices in higher-risk destinations
• Take antimalarial tablets consistently, at the same time each day
• Use mosquito bite prevention every day, not just when you remember
• Stay hydrated, especially on long flights and in hot climates

After You Return

• Finish any post-travel vaccine doses, if part of a course
• See a GP if you develop a fever within 3 months of returning from a malaria-risk area, treat this as urgent
• Mention your travel history to any doctor you see for unexplained symptoms in the weeks or months after your trip
• Get tested if you had freshwater exposure in a schistosomiasis-risk area, even without symptoms

This article is for general information only. It’s not personal medical advice. Your specific needs depend on your destination, itinerary, and health history, please book a travel health consultation to get advice tailored to your trip.