If you're reading this, then this is probably your first time travelling abroad ;) but  if not then thank you for still dropping by. Travelling abroad for the first time is kind of exciting but for sure there are a lot of things brewing on your mind and you can't help to feel a little anxious. Lots of questions, maybe's and what if's rumbling on your mind.  Just relax, take it easy, and read these guides and things that will help you on your first travel abroad. These are purely based on my research and most are on my personal experiences.

NOTE: You are reading this post at your own risk. Information found here are true and correct to the best of my knowledge but it is much better if you check and confirm it with the concerned departments.



Of course you cannot go out of the country without this. Having a passport nowadays is a must as it serves as one of the primary ID's accepted here in the Philippines and other countries. But using your passport as an ID alone might be a boring idea. You don't want to wait for it to expire without getting any stamps, right? So might as well use it and travel around the world. You have to ensure that you have a valid passport before even planning your trip. :D Securing a passport nowadays is made easy thru the online appointment system (which what i did) and DFA sites are  scattered around the key cities in the metro. Please check DFA's website for further information on how to get a passport.



Assuming that you already have a passport and you're travelling to a VISA-free country, the next important thing that I can suggest for you to plan will be your travel dates. This is one of the important part of your trip to consider especially if you're working. You need to file a leave and wait for it to be approved so might wanna plan this part first. But if you're going to a country that requires a VISA then I think you have to set your travel dates first as you might be needing these in your VISA application. Please check and confirm further information on the embassy of the country that you want to visit.

Also, you might want to do a little checking on the weather of the country that you want to visit. Like me when I went to Hong Kong it was rainy and foggy so the weather was freezing and so the stunning views were blocked by the fogs. But still I enjoyed it. If you want to enjoy the most out of your trip, weather is indeed one of the things that you might want to check.


Assuming that you have already accomplished all three things mentioned above, then plane ticket will be next one. Booking for a plane ticket is made easy nowadays.  Just grab your smartphone and book a flight right away, but beware of the high fare though :). If you are are a budget-traveler like me then seat sale is our best choice. Travelling and exploring the world doesn't need to be that expensive,right?

For me, since I already have a passport, booking a plane ticket is what I do first. Lucky if there is a seat sale but if there's none, I am booking my flight way "way" before my travel dates. Then from there, I will file a leave at work and force my manager to approve it lol, (reason for the leave: I already have a plane ticket booked for this trip, haha).


I suggest that it is BEST to book an accommodation on your destination before your flight. Having trouble with the immigration might be the last thing that you want to happen  so make sure that you have a copy of your hotel accommodation ready. You will also need to fill out an immigration card in which you will be ask to indicate your address abroad.

What if I will be staying at a friend's house? It will be much better if you have an invitation letter with the address of your friend's house abroad. Also, make sure to have your friend's contact number just in case they ask for it.


Be sure to be at the airport at least two hours before your flight. But based on the traffic and airport situation that we currently have, it will be much better if you allot more than that to be on the safe side. You don't want to miss you flight and get left behind by the plane because you're stuck in the traffic, so be as "reasonably" early as possible.

After passing through the first security check, I suggest that you  settle the travel tax first. Travel Tax counters are located at the far left hand side (if you're facing the check-in counters) of the airport. The fee is Php 1620, keep the receipt after paying and proceed to the check-in counters. (Click HERE for more information on what to do at the airport for first time travelers).

As for the immigration, it will be better if you bring the following just in case you will be subjected to a secondary inspection:

• Latest COE (Certificate of Employment) - if you are employed
• Latest ITR (Income Tax Return) - if you are employed and don't have a COE or if you run your own business
• Business Registration Permit - if you are self-employed
• Birth Certificate (NSO)

The amount of money that you will bring depends on the country you're visiting. For instance, during my Hong Kong trip I brought HKD 3000 for a 4-day trip. If you are going to a country with high cost of living of course you're gonna have to bring sufficient amount of money depending on the length of your stay.

Should I exchange my money here in the Philippines before my trip? As for me, I had my money (Philippine Peso) exchanged (to HKD) here before I leave. I just want to be on the safe side since it was my first time travelling abroad and I'm not quite certain of the exchange rate abroad and I don't want to consume time looking for a good money changer there.

So these are all for now. I believe I have covered all the necessary details, if not then feel free to ask or suggest in the comment section below. Will be updating this if I encounter any other things on my next travel abroad. Again, please be reminded that these guides are mostly based on my personal experience. It is much better to check the with the embassy for the immigration's process and requirements.