How-to

How to keep a simple travel history record

Why keep a simple travel record

A running list of past trips can be easier to build a little at a time than to reconstruct all at once from memory. Some people keep a plain table or spreadsheet and add a new row after each trip, so the list stays current without a big catch-up exercise later.

What a particular application form actually asks about travel is set out in the published guidance on GOV.UK, and questions about a specific case are best directed to an IAA-registered adviser or an SRA-regulated solicitor. The approach below is simply one way some people find it helps to keep a record organised, not a list of what any form requires.

• A short table is often easier to scan than a folder of loose tickets.
• Adding a row soon after each trip avoids trying to remember dates later.
• A consistent format makes the list easier to check and to share.

Columns a simple list can have

A simple version of this list can have just a few columns: the date left, the date returned, the destination, and a few words on the reason for the trip. Keeping the format consistent from row to row makes the list quicker to read and easier to check later.

• Date left and date returned, in the same format throughout (for example, DD/MM/YYYY).
• Destination — country and, where useful, city.
• A short note on the reason, such as "holiday" or "family visit".
• Optionally, a reference to the supporting document for that trip, such as a booking reference or file name.

Where to find the dates

Several everyday sources can help fill in a travel list, particularly for trips that happened a while ago. Checking more than one source for the same trip, where possible, can help the dates line up.

• Passport stamps and visa pages, where a passport shows them.
• E-tickets and booking confirmation emails.
• Boarding passes, kept as photos, PDFs or paper copies.
• Airline or travel-agent account history, where an online account keeps past bookings.
• Calendar entries or photos taken during the trip, as a cross-check on rough dates.

Keeping supporting copies alongside the list

Alongside the list itself, some people keep a copy of the ticket, boarding pass or booking confirmation for each trip, filed in date order. Keeping the list and the supporting copies together, rather than in separate places, can make it easier to check one against the other later.

• Name each file so it is easy to match to its row in the list, for example with the date and destination.
• Keep the full document where possible, rather than only a cropped screenshot.
• Store copies somewhere that is backed up, in case a phone or email account is lost.

Updating the record after each trip

Adding a new row soon after each trip, while the dates and details are still fresh, tends to keep the list more accurate than trying to rebuild it from memory much later. It can also help to set aside a few minutes now and then to double-check recent entries against the underlying tickets or passport stamps.

• Add the new trip to the list shortly after returning, rather than waiting.
• Check a new entry against its ticket, boarding pass or passport stamp before moving on.
• Review the list occasionally for gaps, such as a trip with no matching supporting copy.
• Keep a secure backup copy of the list itself, not only the individual documents.

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