How do I know which pillar page to start with?

Answer the six-question decision route in the "The Decision Route" section. If unsure, start with Documents and records. Most planning failures stem from missing or expired documents.

How often should I check that entry rules or deadlines have not changed?

Check official government travel advisories and entry rules at least 2 weeks before departure and again 48 hours before. For tax and legal deadlines, confirm the current year's date on the official agency website (e.g., IRS.gov for U.S. tax deadlines). For visa processing times, check the relevant embassy website monthly if your travel is more than 90 days away.

What is the single most reliable source for entry rules for my specific nationality and destination?

The most reliable source is the destination country's official immigration website or its embassy's travel information page. For U.S. citizens, use travel.state.gov. For UK citizens, use gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. For Australian citizens, use smartraveller.gov.au. For Canadian citizens, use Travel.gc.ca. Do not use third-party aggregators; they may be outdated or incorrect.

What should I do if I discover a requirement has changed after I made my plan?

Re-plan from the point of the changed requirement. For example, if a visa processing time increases from 2 weeks to 8 weeks, adjust your departure date or apply for expedited processing if available. If a vaccine requirement changes, schedule a health consultation immediately; some vaccine series require 4-6 weeks. Update your checklist and plan, and re-verify all dependent deadlines.

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