Step by step: Crossing International Borders on YOUR Overland Adventure

[@TheJourneyAhead]

Don't forget to always be friendly to everyone who works at the borders. Being friendly makes a border crossing so much faster and easier.

[@48956l]

"People aren't just mean for no reason" I wish more people understood this.

[@mugumyapaultheafricannomad9488]

Dan, of all tips i learned the hard way its to arrive at the boarder early in the day. Now, i also make sure it's not a weekend. I plan a crossing on a week day and i make sure i arrive before 12noon, otherwise i would wait other day. I slept on a boarder crossing because I arrived at 3pm and the officer was gone for a burial 😄😃 and another time it was Sunday and immigration guys were at church. Lol Like said, i think going early is a key tip. Thanks for the video as always

[@LesSharp]

Good point on having your photocopies done in advance. I have found the price of a copy goes up dramatically in border towns. Also, never march into any office and tell them you're in a hurry or look agitated about the time. Some people are just going to mess with you if they see you're easily rattled. I've crossed borders in the afternoon and been told to go get a room for the night and come back and do the paperwork in the morning. Sounded sketchy but never had a problem.

[@cameronwood1994]

I really wish there were videos like yours Dan before I did my first trip. I'm sure I'm going to learn something here, because I really struggled with them.

[@gasfranangolalda6145]

This kind of content is why I ALWAYS first hit the like button and then view your vids.

[@ematus_r50]

Hi Dan!, another good and insightful video and actually i can contribute in this one with, im not sure how to call it, lets say "an anecdote", i was crossing back to Chile from Argentina at the "Mamuil Malal" border crossing, on the argentinian side, everything was good and suddenly one officer approaches the vehicle and asks me "Where do you work?" and i was like "¿?", He replies "Do You Work For National Geographic"? and points to the roof of my Pathfinder because on that trip i used a branded National Geographic roof bag, he was convinced i was trafficking birds, plants or wathever, so he called more officers, and even the dogs and made a deep search on the vehicle, off course they didnt find anything, until at last i had a picture of the recipe of the bag on my phone and my work contract (lol) and showed to them and they let me go but that was one of the weirdest things that has happened to me, at least one time a year i go to Argentina and that never happened to me before!, Greetings From Chile!

[@stewartgreen883]

Take sunglasses off when at the border post. Also try not to wear flip flops or a skimpy vest or tank top. Put on a proper T-shirt and wear your walking shoes/boots. Also no gum. It just demonstrates that you respect the place.

[@Furniture121]

I love the pragmatic view of border crossings. I've crossed a few less, and generally at larger crossing points, but if you treat the guards/clerks like the professionals they are, you're usually fine.

[@gertvandalen8584]

Thanks for your video, this matches 99% of my experiences. The only exception was the Rosso border between Mauritania and Senegal where the officials work together with fixers.. very hectic experience! Everyone was shouting, asking for money, touching my stuff etc!

[@aasphaltmueller5178]

this border is known as "bad" since like ever.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I know that one has a horrible reputation... and while the corruption was a little more blatant than elsewhere, it took me about an hour in total and I didn't pay a cent to anyone. Just say no and walk away from the fixers.

[@robertvoss9111]

*laughs in Schengen area* , no seriously thanks this is super useful!

[@aasphaltmueller5178]

it's always a good idea to check on current information. For example around 1990 Niger Borderguards had orders to surch every vehicle carefully for weapons. I had read that and also they were usually professional, even friendly and just followed orders, and were not looking for a bribe or worse when you got the order to open everything. And so it was and everything was cool and I was not nervous or feeling strange.

[@MountainRoots]

Great info Dan, I really appreciate the perspective & experience you bring to all your videos. 🤙-Josh

[@MidhunvSankar]

Nice video’s , when you reach Kerala , india let me know

[@f22at12mm]

Very helpful. Many thanks.

[@jakeinvan]

Hi Dan, in your books, you mentioned returning to Australia to see your family a few times while you were travelling. I'm curious about what you do about temporary storage for your vehicle when you leave it behind in random countries. Are there issues with leaving the country without a vehicle when you entered with one, even if you will be retuning to collect the vehicle at a later date?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Every country has different rules about this - sometimes you get official permission, sometimes you just go and make sure you're back before the TIP expires and then leave with the vehicle without telling anyone you were gone. On a Carnet, it's perfectly legal to do so. I have details for all the countries I've been to in wikioverland.org per country.

[@BadGecco]

I am always afraid if I lose eyesight of my passport. Many crossings, where the bus driver has collected every passenger's passports or some border officers come to a train and collect them one wagon at a time.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

That's the great thing about driving and doing it yourself - your passport will always be visible.

[@markyeadon7271]

Have the copies of your passport, vehicle registration documentation ect stamped by a commissioner of oaths ( notary) and don’t hand over the originals. Also take your own pens and be prepared to leave it at the border post. Most important be friendly and polite !!

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I've never been asked for a notarized copy of a single document.. so I'm not sure that's needed.

[@markyeadon7271]

On a couple of occasions I’ve had customs officials trying to “get smart” and not return original documentation without a “gift” so now I use the copies. If they don’t want to return them it’s not a problem.

[@MrDwboyce]

You are very knowledgeable about this topic. Your video would be so much more helpful if you were more specific about the country you are talking about. Are you referring to you're Africa crossing or you're america crossing? I want to drive from SA to Ireland in a 1967 Land rover

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I'm referring to all of them. They're all 99% the same, so the advice in this video applies to the entire world.

[@rethasmit500]

Do you need to own your vehicle outright to cross a border with it, or can you also take a vehicle that is financed with a bank and you still owe money on it?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

You need to get permission from the lien holder (the bank) to cross a border. They'll never give that to you, so you can't do it with a financed vehicle.

[@mark2073]

What about Covid passport

[@michaelconchscooter8940]

World Health Organization vaccination cards have been used by travelers for decades for diseases you’ve never had to worry about in the first world. Yellow fever cholera and so forth recorded on a yellow card. Civid could easily be recorded there too I suppose.

[@guidok3762]

A border crossing in Europe is at this moment more difficult then entering Africa / America on your trips 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

[@adelarsen9776]

Crossing the Norwegian Swedish border can be hell. Hot women in sexy uniforms asking to see what's "down below".

[@GATORADDAM]

Good stuff. But Dan.... It's just VIN, not VIN Number. (Vehicle Identification Number Number?) I cringe when I hear someone say that. Lol.