TRAVEL · CHECKLIST

A practical packing list for long-term travel

Official sources last checked: 3 November 2026 · Written for travellers flying from Canada

Packing for months is different from packing for a week. You can buy most things where you're going, so the goal is to bring what's hard to replace and leave the rest. This list starts with the things that would actually ruin your trip if you forgot them.

1. Hard to replace: keep these on you

These go in your carry-on or on your person, never in a checked bag.

• Passport, plus any visa or permit paperwork for your destination.
• Printed and digital copies of your passport, visa, insurance policy and key documents. Leave a set with someone you trust at home.
• Your travel insurance details and the insurer's emergency phone number.
• At least two ways to pay, kept in different places, plus a little local cash if your destination allows you to bring it in. The Government of Canada's Travelling and money page recommends always carrying a backup source of funds.
• Your phone, laptop and their chargers.

2. Medication

The Government of Canada's Travelling with medication page is the one to read before you pack. In short, it advises you to:

• Check that your medications are legal in your destination. Some medications, supplements and herbal products legal in Canada are illegal elsewhere or need approval in advance, and it's your responsibility to check. The destination's government office in Canada can confirm.
• Carry enough for your whole trip, since some medications aren't sold in other countries.
• Keep medications in their original, labelled containers, with a list of everything you take.
• Carry a copy of your prescription with both generic and trade names, and a doctor's note explaining why you take them.
• Keep all medications and medical supplies in your carry-on.

Cannabis is a special case: the same page says it's illegal to carry it, or products containing it (including CBD), across the Canadian border unless authorized by Health Canada and allowed by the country you're going to, even if you use it for medical reasons.

3. Airport security: what goes where

• Liquids and gels in your carry-on must be in containers of 100 ml or less, all in one clear, resealable 1 L bag, according to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority's What can I bring page. Larger containers go in checked baggage.
• Medications and medical items should be properly labelled and easy to reach for inspection.
• Batteries and power banks have their own rules. Check CATSA's guidelines before packing them.
• For anything you're unsure about, CATSA's "What can I bring?" search tool on the same page tells you whether an item is allowed in your carry-on or checked bag.

4. Tech for working and staying in touch

• A plug adapter for your destination's sockets. Check that your chargers handle the local voltage before plugging them in.
• A way to get online on arrival: check whether your phone is unlocked so it can take a local SIM or eSIM.
• A backup of your important files somewhere you can reach if your laptop is lost or stolen.
• Turn on device passwords and remote-wipe features before you leave.

5. Clothes: pack for a week, not for months

• Pack about a week's worth and plan to do laundry. You'll carry everything you pack, often up stairs.
• Check your destination's climate for every season you'll be there, not just the month you arrive. The travel advice page for each country includes a natural disasters and climate section.
• Choose layers that mix and match over single-purpose outfits.
• Bring at least one outfit suitable for official appointments, such as permit interviews or signing a lease.
• Check local norms on dress, especially for religious sites. The "Laws and culture" section of each country's travel advice page is a good start.

6. What to leave behind

• Full-size toiletries: you can buy them when you arrive.
• "Just in case" items you haven't needed on past trips.
• Valuables you would be upset to lose and don't need.
• Anything that could be illegal at your destination. If in doubt, check before you pack, not at the border.

Official sources used

• Travelling with medication — Government of Canada
• What can I bring through airport security — Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
• Travelling and money — Government of Canada
• Travel advice and advisories — Government of Canada

Still planning? See A realistic checklist for planning a move abroad and How to build a travel budget that includes hidden costs.