Essential Packing List for Indian Students Going Abroad

Prepare and submit applications to your chosen universities along with important documents such as transcripts, letters of recommendation, statements of purpose, essays etc.

4. Research about scholarships, grants and student loans you can apply to.

5. Accept offer letters from your desired university/college.

6. Appear for a visa interview after applying for a student visa and gathering the necessary documents.

7. Pre-arrange accommodation with on-campus or off-campus housing.

8. Book flight tickets and plan your travel ahead of time.

Curate your personal study abroad packing list:

Before Packing:

Select suitable luggage: Choose a spacious bag with wheels that rotate 360 degrees to ensure a comfortable travel. Most airlines allow up to 23 Kgs in check-in luggage. Prepare and organize beforehand to avoid last minute struggles. If possible select a versatile baggage that has a number lock.
Get a full health check-up and store all the important documents such as Health Insurance along with other documents.
Getting an International Bank Account or making sure that your bank has international services is a must before making a study abroad packing list. Get a credit card that works internationally and keep some local currency in spare for use in the initial days.
Prepare a list of emergency contacts (family, friends, local embassy and university contacts)
Get an International SIM or an international plan for your cell phone.

Now that everything is set, let’s move to the final preparations before you fly to your dream study abroad destination! The very first step is to check the luggage restrictions with your airline before you create your own packing list for international students. Here’s a complete packing list for Indian students going abroad:

Things to Carry While Traveling Abroad from India: Documents

This is perhaps the most important folder you shall carry with you when cumulating a packing list for international students. Some of the common and significant documents to carry are:

Passport (with a valid visa)
Airline Tickets
Admission Letter from your University
Academic Transcripts and Certificates
Financial records like Bank Statements and Sponsorship Letters
Photo ID
Health Insurance
International Driving Permit (if applicable)
Copies of all Important Documents (in both physical and digital form)
CV/Resume/Portfolio
Passport-Size Photograph
Test Scores
Proof of Funds
Academic Record

Things to Carry While Traveling Abroad from India: Essential Electronics

Moving abroad all by yourself shouldn’t mean you are alone in the process. Connecting to people in any corner of the globe is possible with the smart use of the Internet. So, don’t forget your companion devices! These will be helpful to you after moving to your destination and for surviving there as a student as well as when you want to work part-time.

Laptop
Mobile Phone
Chargers
Universal Power Adapter
Hard Drive or USB drives
Headphones
Camera (optional)

Things to Carry While Traveling Abroad from India: Financials

There are a lot of things that will switch for you the moment you land in another country. The first few things to keep in mind are currency, time zone, language and people. Carry these in your carry-on luggage in order to ensure safety:

Local Currency
Host Currency
International debit/credit card

Things to Carry While Traveling Abroad from India: Clothing

Clothing is another important requirement to add to your luggage. You need to be prepared in adding climate specific clothing according to the country you’re moving to. For example, students moving to Canada need to keep in mind the extreme winter conditions and changes they’ll be facing in the weather as compared to India’s, when packing clothes.

Seasonal clothing (considering the climate of your destination)
Formal wear (for presentations and interviews)
Casual wear
Undergarments and socks
Sleepwear
Comfortable shoes (walking shoes, formal shoes, and slippers)
Winter wear (coats, gloves, scarves, hats if going to a colder climate)
Traditional wear (for cultural events)

Things to Carry While Traveling Abroad from India: Items for Personal Care

Include items as per your need but avoid overloading your luggage and the urge to overpack. Remember that most of the items except clothes are carried along only for use in the initial days. Most of these items can be bought once you settle down.

Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc.)
Skincare products
Hair care products and accessories
Towels and washcloths
First aid kit (band-aids, antiseptic cream, basic medicines)
Prescription medications (with doctor’s prescription)
Glasses or contact lenses (if needed)

Things to Carry While Traveling Abroad from India: Kitchen Essentials

Again, these are necessary items to get you through your initial days in a new country. Keep the quantity limited and in check.

Basic utensils (spoon, fork, knife, small bowl, plate)
Pressure cooker (if allowed and necessary)
Spices and masalas (in small quantities)
Snacks (to get you through Traveling and the first few days)

Things to Carry While Traveling Abroad from India: Miscellaneous

Bedding (sheets, pillowcases, blanket)
Small sewing kit
Backpack or daypack
Stationery (notebooks, pens, pencils, etc.)
Water bottle
Lock and key for luggage
Cultural items (small gifts, mementos)

Things to Carry While Traveling Abroad from India: Academic Supplies

Reference books or e-books
Calculator (if required for your course)
Notebooks and folders

Things to Carry While Traveling Abroad from India: Comfort Items

Home is not about the place it’s about the things that make that place. And carrying some of those items along will help you to get through the homesick feeling in the initial months.

Photos of family and friends
Favorite books or magazines (avoid overpacking though)
Any other items that provide comfort or a sense of home

Things to Carry While Traveling Abroad from India: Food

This is an essential in your study abroad packing list. While you could always buy these after reaching your destination, it’s better to have some food for emergency situations and initial days. Until then you can research which stores to buy groceries from at an affordable price.

Ready-to-eat meals (for the first few days)
Instant noodles or snacks

Things to Carry While Traveling Abroad from India: Basic medicines

In situations of emergency, during your travel or after reaching, you must have some basic medications with you in case you can’t find them when needed. Here are some of the medicines including a simple first aid kit:

Paracetamol
Cough syrup
Oral rehydration salts (ORS)
Band-Aids
Dettol
Cotton
Neosporin
Sunblock (high SPF)
Insect repellent
Prescription medications
Inhaler
Thermometer
Sanitizer

Final Checklist for Thing to Carry Before Leaving Home:

Passport
Flight Tickets
Documents
Re-check all of your bookings if you have a layover
Re-check accommodation
Re-confirm pick up after landing to your destination
Devices with fully charged batteries

How to avoid overpacking?

Pack Beforehand
Check your luggage repeatedly for items you can cut short on. Only pack the things that are absolutely necessary. Remove as many items as possible.

Things Not To Include in your International Student Packing List

Prohibited items such as flammable and sharp objects
Carrying excessive cash is highly unadvisable. While you must carry some cash in order to handle emergency situations, payments are better suited when credit/debit cards or travel cards are used.
High-value items such as excessive jewellery, expensive watches, etc. can attract theft.
Heavy items such as large appliances or too many books shouldn’t be packed. All of these will be available to you for purchase once you reach your destination. Books are available digitally and carrying them physically in larger amounts makes no sense.
Excessive clothing
Toiletries and household items (food) can be bought from your host country as well. While it’s necessary to keep them with you in low quantities in cases of emergency, avoid overpacking these items since you can easily buy them from anywhere later.
Carry medications and first aid in small amounts too.
Some devices may not be compatible with the voltage and plug type in your destined country, so research these factors thoroughly before you pack your list of things to carry while Traveling abroad from India.
Avoid carrying multiple bags. Even if no help is available, you must be able to move your luggage by yourself in times of emergencies and during the travel.

Find Further Information and Support For Your Journey From

University Resources
Government and Official Resources such as Embassies
Online Platform and Communities: Study Abroad Websites, Student Forums and Social Media
Education Consultants
Personal Networks

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common mistakes to avoid while executing a packing list for Indian students going abroad?

There are only two major mistakes when it comes to packing for your travel - Overpacking and Under packing. Also, remember to label your luggage and check with your airline restrictions on luggage before you start packing.

What are the best ways to pack efficiently and save more space in my luggage?

Use smart tricks such as folding your clothes, using compartments to organize your items, vacuum compression bags to reduce space used up by bulky items like jackets, wear bulky items like boots during your travel to reduce space in your luggage and utilize every nook and corner (fill insides shoes with socks, and other hollow items can be used as some extra space too).

How should I pack fragile and valuable items?

Wrapping delicate items and using bubble wraps will allow you to safely carry things that might otherwise break during the travel. Use boxes to pack items after wrapping, to ensure further safety. You can also inform the airline staff about your belongings and it can be taken care of. Another good option is double boxing items that can easily break. Seal the box perfectly to keep items from misplacing during the journey.

How do I ensure that my luggage is safe and secure during the trip?

Choose a high quality and durable hard-shell bag with ample locks for all compartments. Label your luggage such that it has your name, address and contact information in it. Put an extra ID tag inside the luggage too in case the external one gets lost. Make a packing list to keep a track of your items and quickly identify if something is lost. Carry valuable items such as laptop, jewelry, important documents, electronics) with you in your carry-on luggage. Check-in early at the airport to avoid any last minute struggles and keep your luggage in sight. You may also use luggage wrapping services provided at airports. Verify luggage tags after reaching your destination.

How do I handle liquid items in my baggage?

Limit carrying any liquid items. If you do have to take them along, try to keep them in your carry on luggage. Then too, the quantity you can include is restricted according to your airline, so make sure to check with those rules before deciding to pack any liquid items in your luggage.

What are the best ways to pack and carry cash and important documents?

In general, having travel insurance can go a long way in case of any loss of items. Keep documents in a holder. Separate original copies of your documents from prints and keep them in a safe yet easily accessible compartment in your luggage. Documents can also be stored digitally in order to have a backup during an emergency. Limit the amount of cash you carry. Use debit/credit cards as most places accept them. Invest in a good quality Travel Wallet to hold your cash safe. Don’t keep all of your emergency cash in a single place, spread it out among your wallet, a secure bag, etc. You can also use a money belt or neck pouch that goes under your clothes and can thus provide an extra layer of security. You may also hide some of your cash in unexpected places such as shoes, hidden pockets in your luggage, etc.

What are the packing tips for keeping valuables safe?

Invest in anti-theft bags made of slash resistant materials, that have lockable-zippers. Carry minimal jewelry so you don’t have to worry about it during your travel.

What should I know about carrying specialty items like musical instruments?

Check with airline policies and customs regulations for the airline company you choose to travel in. Get proper insurance for costly items if possible and necessary. Use a hard-shell quality case with ample padding for packing these items to avoid damage. If your instruments has strings, loosen them reduce tension, as changes in temperature and pressure could damage it. Use bubble wraps, foam, soft cloths to provide an extra cushioning layer especially around delicate portions. Carry your instrument as a carry-on thus avoiding the risk of damage due to rough handling or else you could request the airline staff to handle those items specially.

How do I ensure my luggage is easily identifiable?

Customize your luggage using different straps/bands, use bright colors, add unique tags and stickers, showcase your creativity here!