Emergency Documents Checklist: What Belongs in Your Grab-and-Go Folder

Identity & ID

You carry the original — only a copy goes in the folder.

National ID card A plain copy is enough Keep the original on you — a copy belongs in the folder as backup.
Passport A plain copy is enough Essential if you evacuate across a border.
Residence permit / visa A plain copy is enough For anyone without a national passport.
Membership and other cards (e.g. disability card) A plain copy is enough

Civil status & family

Replacing certificates takes weeks — these go in as originals.

Family record book Keep the original Bundles birth and marriage certificates in one place.
Birth certificates Keep the original
Marriage certificate Keep the original
Death certificates of relatives Keep the original Needed for inheritance and pension matters.

Insurance & finances

No policy number, no fast claim settlement.

Insurance policies (liability, contents, buildings, life) Original or certified copy Proves your claim after damage.
Savings books, account and securities contracts Original or certified copy
Shares, securities, bonds Original or certified copy
Income statements & tax assessments Original or certified copy Prove income and ongoing entitlements.
Benefit change notices (pension, housing, child benefit) A plain copy is enough
Invoices and receipts for outstanding claims A plain copy is enough

Property, housing & contracts

You must be able to prove ownership when it matters.

Rental, leasing and loan contracts (incl. amendments) Original or certified copy
Land register extracts A plain copy is enough The original stays with the land registry — a copy is enough.
Purchase and repair invoices for valuables A plain copy is enough Proof of ownership for contents insurance.

Legal & advance directives

Exactly the documents that count in a crisis — and that nobody can improvise.

Will Original or certified copy
Advance healthcare directive Original or certified copy Must be reachable immediately in an emergency.
Power of attorney Original or certified copy

Health

Decisive in an emergency — indispensable with a chronic condition.

Vaccination record A plain copy is enough
Medication plan A plain copy is enough BBK recommends a supply of essential medicines.
Important medical findings A plain copy is enough
Allergy, emergency and blood-group card A plain copy is enough

Vehicle, qualifications & access

Driving licence A plain copy is enough You use the original daily — put a copy in the folder.
Vehicle registration & title A plain copy is enough
School, university and work references Original or certified copy
List of important passwords and logins A plain copy is enough Store it separately and securely — never labelled in the open.

Won't the EUDI wallet soon cover this?

From late 2026 every citizen gets a state-issued EU wallet — but it mainly covers your digital ID. Your insurance policy, your advance directive, the family emergency plan or proof of ownership are not in it. That is exactly the gap a private, encrypted emergency folder fills. (SiloPrep’s own assessment, not a BBK quote.)

Secure your documents digitally — encrypted, for your eyes only

Paper burns, is lost in a flood, or gets left behind in an evacuation. In the SiloPrep vault your documents are end-to-end encrypted (AES-256) — only whoever holds the key can read the contents, names and categories. Readable offline even in a blackout. The preparedness core of SiloPrep stays free forever.

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Frequently asked questions

Which documents matter most in an emergency?

ID, birth and marriage certificates, insurance policies, and your advance directive and powers of attorney. The BBK recommends keeping them bundled in a grab-and-go folder — but lists them explicitly as an example to adapt to your own situation.

Original or copy — what goes in the folder?

Family certificates (birth, marriage, record book) belong in as originals. For savings books, insurance policies, contracts and advance directives, the BBK lets you choose between the original and a certified copy. You carry your ID, passport and driving licence, so a plain copy in the folder is enough. When in doubt, ask the issuing authority which form is required.

Where should I keep the emergency folder?

Within reach at a fixed spot everyone in the household knows — so you can grab it in seconds during an evacuation. A digital, encrypted copy in a second location is wise in case the original is lost.

Is this checklist free?

Yes, completely free and no sign-up needed. If you also want to store your documents digitally with end-to-end encryption, you can use the SiloPrep vault for that.