Congratulations! If you are reading this article, then you must have got admission to a foreign university and now you are very enthusiastic to pack your bags and take the flight to your dream destination. You have come so far with your diligence and hard work, so you should pat yourself for it! Here comes the most perverse part which you have to address – packing bags. Imagine you have to pack everything important in your life in just two suitcases. Well, this is not imagination but reality! The major dilemma which students face while packing is what to pack and what not to. So, through this packing guide, we aim to address this challenge and pack those things around which your life revolves. 

From where to start? 

The first thing which you should do is check the weight limit of luggage allowed with your ticket. One thing which you should have taken care of while booking the flight is not to book a cheap flight as it has less weight limit of luggage permitted. Moreover, check out the list of those things which are not allowed to be onboarded on the flight. Many flights allow passengers to carry a small bag which they can keep with them even during the journey. 

After gaining all this information about the airline and luggage limitations, you should purchase a new suitcase (6-12 months old will also work) that is sturdy enough to carry during the journey. Now comes the task of selecting items to be packed. It is good to prepare a list of all those things which you want to pack and then sort them according to their priority. 

List of things to pack

To ease the task, I have made categories and listed essential items which you should pack in every category. 

1. Clothes and footwear

For selecting apparel and footwear, you should gain complete knowledge about the weather and climate of the country or city where you are going. Then only, you can start packing. Following is the list which can consider while shortlisting apparel and footwear: 

1. Undergarments – At least seven pairs

2. Long sleeve and short sleeve shirts

3. Minimum 2 pairs of jeans

4. Sweaters/Sweatshirts/Hoodies

5. Shorts/Skirts 

6. Night suit/pajamas 

7. Raincoat/Swimsuit (needed as per the weather) 

8. Workout clothes

9. One nice outfit for a party

10. One formal outfit for events

11. 1 pair of Flip flops/sandals 

12. Sneakers/rain boots/dress shoes/ boots

13.  1 coat or jacket

14. Belts/socks/hat/gloves/scarf 

2. Electronic items 

Try to carry a few electronic items as possible as there are voltage differences between nations. So, even if you carry them, they will be useless. Moreover, I have mentioned devices which you can carry and will be useful for you even abroad. 

1. Laptop and its charger

2. Mobile phone and its charger

3. Power bank (portable)

4. Camera 

5. Outlet Adapter 

6. USB cables

3. Toiletries 

Yes, these also come in essential items and you should carry them with you. You won’t be going shopping immediately after reaching the destination, so you should have stock of toiletries at least for two weeks. Following are the items which are necessary to carry while migrating abroad: 

1. Toothpaste and brush

2. Soap, shampoo, and conditioner 

3. Comb, oil, razors, and nail cutter

4. Cosmetics, lotions, and deodorant 

5. Tissue/toilet paper

6. Toiletry kits

7. Important medicines and contraceptives 

4. Miscellaneous items

Apart from the above three categories, there are many things that don’t fall in any of the categories above but are essential to carry with you. Following is the list of such items: 

1. Documents like Visa, passport, ISIC card, flight tickets, etc.

2. Purse/Wallet

3. Small backpack for college

4. Earphones or iPods

5. Locks and keys

6. Jewelry/watches

7. Cash (in foreign currency)

8. Water bottle

9. Driving license, student ID, academic documents

10. Vaccination certificates

11. Debit/credit cards

12. Bedsheets, towels (if not included in accommodation) 

13. Sunglasses

14. Office supplies like pens, pencils, etc

15. Handy first-aid kit