If you belong to a group of people who want a vacation from a travel agency, this article is not for you. I´m writting about tasks which we needed to do before the traveling. Actually, we like this process and how we say: to order and do nothing, is boring for us. And thanks to our previous trip to Asia, we are calmer now. Below are a few tasks (a total of 15) before traveling to New Zealand.
# 1 Air-tickets
In my opinion, air-tickets are the most important task. According exact date of departure we could plan other tasks. Our original idea was that our date of departure will be in April, later in June, but finally we found air-tickets in July. Summer holidays start in our country, and we will come to the winter holidays in New Zealand. We’ll fly from heat to winter again. A lot of people don’t understand our logic: D
# 2 Confirmation of completed education
Since we’ve got a Working Holiday Visa that makes it possible for us to work on NZ, we’ve read that even if it’s not required, it’s sometimes a good idea to have a diploma about your education.
Martin has a secondary vocational school – he graduated in electrical engineering, so he had to find a school leaving certificate, get a certified copy. Finally, Translator translated it to english language. The price for the copy and translation was about 500 CZK.
I had a bit more complicated situation because I have a university degree. It was good that I already had a certified copy of a diploma done from notary. Then I had to go to the post office where I bought 4 stamps worth 100 CZK (1 document = 1 stamp). I had a total of 2 documents – diploma and diploma supplement (certificate). I had to go to the Ministry of Education and attach 2 stamps to the documents. Then I had to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who made me so-called superlegalization. Again I put 2 stamps. Finally, they asked me, which country did I choose. Everything is written into books. After the superlegalization, my diploma is valid in New Zealand.
Maybe it sounds complicated, but if you have less than 5 documents, it will be done the same day when you come. So no panic, in 1 week it can be done. Actually, I was most afraid of Czech post. The stamps cannot be bought over the internet, you have to go to a branch. In post office, it is normal to wait sometimes 2 hours. I was lucky that I caught a good time and few people. I went to a branch near Masaryk Railway Station and I was done in 15 minutes.
# 3 Vaccination
Although vaccination is not required, the basic trio (jaundice A + B, tetanus and typhoid fever) is appropriate for travelling. You never know if you decide to visit one of the islands in Oceania. Surely we could consider meningococcal vaccination, but vaccination before all the strains is very costly (about 10,000 CZK per person). And just because of the financial demands, we did not undergo this vaccination even though we know that traveling by plane, airport transfers, etc., the risk of infection increases and we belong to the so-called risk group.
Fortunately, we have a basic trio done, as well as an international vaccination card. The main task before the next trip was – mainly to find the international vaccination card 🙂
# 4 Passport
Passport expiration check. We had to have a passport already at the time of issuing the visa, which expires up to 6 months after leaving NZ. Fortunately, passports are issued for 10 years, so our 2 years old are fine. And if I can recommend, 2 passports are better than only one. You never know what can happen.
Price for 1 passport: 600 CZK (it will be done until 30 days, valid for 10 years)
# 5 International Driving License
We would be crazy if we decided to go to NZ and not travel through their beautiful nature by car. Of course, this requires an international driving license, which we will present with a normal driving license if checked. At the same time, the international driver’s license can serve as another proof of identity, as it has a name and a photo.
It is done on the same day, when you come, it is valid for 1 year and the price is 50 CZK.
# 6 Electronic Signature and Data Box
Other points that are useful for long-term travel. Self-employed persons can´t avoid paying taxes, which, fortunately, can be filed online, but can only be completed with a certified electronic signature. And if we have a data box, the authorities can also communicate with us. (eg we can send a power of attorney to a person who acts on our behalf in some matters and does not need a paper power of attorney).
# 7 Power of Attorney
Even when the previous point mentions that there is no need to write a power of attorney on paper, we have already handled this matter before traveling to Asia.
# 8 Travel insurance
It just wants patience and looking for. And even though we were very satisfied with TrueTravel insurance (https://www.truetraveller.com), now, we have the opportunity to get better pricing and better coverage of expenses, incl. work with a Czech insurance company (price about 6 000 CZK / per person / per year).
# 9 The end of insurance in the Czech Republic
Even if we don´t know in advance how long we will be away, we will leave for at least 6 months and thus we will not be obliged to pay health insurance in the Czech Republic. We filled in the form at the insurance company branch. After returning we will have to prove that we had insurance for the whole stay outside the Czech Republic. If we do not prove anything, there is a risk that we will also pay the insurance in the Czech Republic with penalties.
# 10 The end of the Czech Social Security Administration
Since Martin was a self-employed person, he must report to the CSSA that he is going abroad and will not pay mandatory payments. In my case, I do not deal with this because I had season work and I was exempt from these payments.
# 11 The end of the Trade Licensing Office
Another place where Martin had to go and report the end date of the Trade License.
# 12 Payment card validity
We always check the end of the validity of all documents before traveling. Fortunately, we didn’t have a problem with our bank to issue a new payment card sooner.
# 13 Mobile phone and tariff in the Czech Republic
In order not to lose the phone number and not pay the full tariff, we have reduced the package to a minimum.
# 14 Creating a New Zealand Bank Account
One of the things we wanted to prepare at home in the Czech Republic. Although we have the opportunity to set up an ONLINE account, we will still have to go to the bank branch personally (they always check your identity). After the ACTIVATION, we will be able to apply for an IRD tax number because we will not receive a payout without it.
# 15 Prescription of medications and declaration from the doctor
Although medicines are available around the world, as a health care professional I like to pack at least a basic first-aid kit so I don’t have to go to a doctor with every little thing. And because of strict airport controls, it is good to have a declaration from your doctor (in English) with the stamp and signature that the medicines are for your own use.
