Pre-Departure Checklist for International Students: 25 Things to Do Before You Fly

Congratulations on your admission or scholarship. The weeks before departure are busy, and small oversights can cause big problems on arrival. Work through this checklist in the month before you fly.

Documents

1. Passport with your student visa or visa approval (check that the details are correct)
2. University offer letter and visa document (CAS, I-20, CoE or letter of acceptance)
3. Scholarship award letter and any conditions
4. Original degree certificates and transcripts
5. Proof of funds and accommodation, which border officers may ask to see
6. Health insurance documents
7. Digital copies of everything in a secure cloud folder, plus printed copies in your hand luggage

Money

8. Inform your bank that you will be abroad, and check international card fees.
9. Carry some local currency for your first days.
10. Know when your first scholarship payment arrives; payments often start a few weeks after enrolment.
11. Plan a budget for the first month, when costs are highest (deposits, transport cards, household items).

Housing and arrival

16. Confirm your accommodation and check-in date, or book temporary housing.
17. Plan your route from the airport to your accommodation.
18. Register for the university’s airport pickup or orientation if available.
19. Save the address and phone number of the international office.

Packing

22. Check your airline’s baggage allowance (scholarship flights often have specific limits).
23. Pack clothes suitable for the climate, including one formal outfit.
24. Bring plug adapters and any essential items that are expensive abroad.

Country-specific reminders

• UK: set up your UKVI account to access your eVisa, and register with a GP.
• Germany: register your address (Anmeldung) soon after arrival and apply for your residence permit if required.
• USA: carry your I-20 in hand luggage and check in with your international student office.
• Canada: make sure your study permit is issued correctly at the port of entry.

Your last eight weeks, step by step

• Eight weeks before: check that your passport and visa are in order, confirm your housing and read all e-mails from your university and scholarship office.
• Six weeks before: book your flight. If a scholarship pays for travel, ask how tickets are booked or refunded before you buy one.
• Four weeks before: get medical and dental check-ups, collect prescriptions and vaccination records, and arrange how you will carry money.
• Two weeks before: make copies of every document, tell your bank that you are travelling, and plan your route from the airport to your room.
• One week before: pack, weigh your bags, download maps and tickets to your phone, and share your travel details with your family.
• The day before: charge your devices, check in online and put your documents folder in your hand luggage.

Documents to keep in your hand luggage

Never put these in a checked bag. You may need to show them at the airport before you see your luggage again.

• Passport with visa or entry permit
• University offer or admission letter
• Scholarship award letter, or proof of funds
• Proof of accommodation and the address
• Original degree certificates and transcripts
• Medical records, prescriptions and insurance details
• A few passport-size photos
• Emergency contacts: the university’s international office and your country’s embassy

Keep paper copies in a different bag, and scanned copies in your e-mail or cloud storage.

Money for the first month

The first month costs more than a normal one. You may pay a housing deposit, buy bedding and kitchen items, and pay for transport cards and a phone plan. If you have a scholarship, ask when the first payment arrives. It is often paid after you register at the university and open a local bank account, which can take a few weeks. Bring enough money for that gap. Carry it in more than one form: some cash in the local currency, and a bank card that works abroad. Check your country’s rules on how much cash you can carry.

Extra steps for scholarship holders

• Travel: follow the scholarship’s rules for booking. Some book the ticket for you, and others refund only approved fares.
• Briefings: attend the pre-departure session and read the scholar handbook. It answers most practical questions.
• Arrival: report to the scholarship or international office within the days they state. Your stipend may depend on it.
• Conditions: know the rules you agreed to, such as minimum grades, limits on paid work and returning home after your studies.
• Contacts: save the name and e-mail of your programme officer.

Health preparations

• Carry regular medicines in their original packs, with the prescription and a doctor’s letter in English.
• Check that your medicines are legal in the country you are going to.
• Bring your vaccination record and any test results the university or visa office asked for.
• Find out the date your health insurance starts. Buy travel insurance for the days before that if needed.
• If you wear glasses, bring a spare pair and your prescription.

Phone, apps and internet

Ask your mobile company about roaming for the first days, or buy a local SIM or eSIM on arrival. Before you fly, download offline maps of your new city, the airline app, your university’s app and a translation app. Save important addresses and phone numbers where you can reach them without internet.

At the airport and on arrival

1. Arrive at the airport at least three hours before an international flight.
2. At immigration, answer questions simply and honestly. Have your passport, admission letter, funding proof and address ready.
3. Follow the customs rules on food, medicines and cash.
4. Use official transport from the airport, or the pick-up arranged by your university.
5. Message your family when you reach your room.

Your first month abroad

• Enrol at the university and collect your student card.
• Complete any registration the country requires, such as a residence permit or address registration.
• Open a bank account, and give the details to the scholarship office.
• Register with a doctor or the student health service.
• Attend orientation, meet your academic adviser and check your timetable.
• Find the nearest low-cost supermarket, and learn the public transport routes you will use.

The final 24 hours

• Check in online, and confirm your baggage allowance and terminal.
• Put your passport, visa, offer letter, scholarship letter and housing address in one folder in your hand luggage.
• Save offline copies of the same documents on your phone, and e-mail them to yourself.
• Charge your phone and power bank, and download offline maps of your new city.
• Tell your bank that you are travelling, so that your card is not blocked abroad.
• Share your flight details and your first address with your family.
• Weigh your bags at home.

Mistakes new students make in the first month

• Missing registration steps: many countries ask you to register your address, collect a residence card or attend university enrolment within a fixed number of days. Ask your international office for the list on day one.
• Spending the first stipend too fast: the first month has one-time costs such as a deposit, bedding and a transport card. Wait a few weeks before large purchases.
• Ignoring e-mail from the scholarship office: arrival forms and bank details often have deadlines, and a late form can delay your payment.
• Staying only with students from home: it is comfortable, but joining one club or study group early makes the whole year easier.
• Not asking for help: universities have advisers for housing, health and study skills. Using them is normal.

Frequently asked questions

How early should I arrive before classes start?

One to two weeks before orientation is comfortable. Check the earliest entry date your visa allows.

Should I book a one-way or a return ticket?

Check your visa rules, and your scholarship’s rules if it pays for travel. Many students book a one-way ticket, because the return date is far away.

How much money should I carry?

Carry enough for your first weeks in a mix of cash and a card that works abroad. Ask your scholarship office when the first payment arrives, and check the customs rules of both countries, because large amounts of cash must be declared.

What should I do if my flight is delayed and I miss my airport pick-up?

Message your university or housing contact as soon as you know. Keep their phone number and the full address on paper, in case your phone has no connection when you land.

What should I not pack?

Items that are restricted in your destination, large amounts of food, and anything you can easily buy there. Check the airline’s baggage limits and the country’s customs rules.

What if my luggage is lost?

Report it at the airline desk before you leave the airport, and keep the report. This is why documents, medicines and one change of clothes go in your hand luggage.

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