The Ultimate Moving Abroad Checklist

You have decided to study abroad. While it is common to feel excited about all of the new experiences and memories you will have, it is also not uncommon to feel a bit nervous.

Let’s face it, whether you are a seasoned traveler or a newbie, you are bound to feel some anxiety.

Which is why we created the ultimate moving abroad checklist to help you plan for your big move and lessen those nerves. Read on to learn some things you need to plan for and pack!

1. It’s All About Your Passport

Yes, you probably know you should (and have to) bring your passport with you. Think of as the ultimate driver’s license when traveling to another country. It lets authorities where you are from and who you are.

What you may not know though is that it is important to photocopy your passport. The U.S. Department of State recommends that you make 2 copies of your passport (this goes for all other important documents you plan on bringing). Give one copy to a friend or relative that is at home, and keep the other copy separate from your passport.

Store it where you are staying but, like your passport, make sure it is out of sight so it doesn’t attract opportunists.

At the same time, make sure you keep your passport on you, and that you don’t put it in easily accessible areas—such as the back pocket of your pants or an outside pocket on your backpack. That way, it is harder for pick pocketers to get ahold of.

2. Pack a Money Belt

Money belts are a great defense about pickpocketing. In a nutshell, you wear a money belt underneath your garments.

Items to put in your money belt include: money (especially large amounts), important documents, anything else that would be stressful and a hassle to replace if stolen.

Wear your money belt especially if you know you are traveling to a heavily pickpocket-friendly area, and if you are attending a big tourist destination or crowded area.

3. Pack 7-10 Days’ Worth of Clothes

Especially if this is your first time abroad, you may be stressing out on how big of a suitcase you will need to pack all of your clothes. What may be surprising is that you don’t need to buy a suitcase that’s the size of your closet.

You actually only need to pack 7-10 days’ worth of clothes because you will be doing laundry once or twice a week. Make sure though that you check the climate where you will be going to college abroad to so you know what clothing you want to pack more of.

For instance, if you are traveling to Seville in July, know that it can reach temperatures as high as the 40s C° (or 100s F°) so you’d want to pack more light and breathable clothing.

4. Register with Your Embassy

If you are an American, you’ll want to enroll in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). If you are not American, you will want to enroll at your country’s embassy.

The reason being is that your country knows where you are and can send you via email or phone travel alerts and warnings.

5. Exchange Your Money

Exchange some of your money when you are still at home. You want to do this because airport ATMs will have high exchange rates—especially if you are using an ATM that is not contracted with your bank.

That and, depending on the country you are visiting, thieves and pick pocketers target ATM users at the airport. It is not worth the extra hassle.

Final Thoughts

Studying abroad is an exciting experience. It can be stressful preparing for it but is an experience you will be looking back on fondly. Happy Travels! Any more tips? Leave a comment.