Travelling abroad to study: the checklist
Quick read
- Keep your passport, visa, offer letter, insurance and money proof in your hand luggage, never in the checked bag.
- Save scans of every document in your email and on your phone, and give one set to your family.
- Carry a forex card and a little local cash. You can take up to ₹25,000 in Indian notes out of India.
- Declare cash of 10,000 or more in the local currency (UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, EU) when you land.
- Many countries ask you to register your address or collect a permit in your first weeks: put the dates in your calendar.
Documents in your hand luggage
Carry the originals with you on the plane, in one folder, with a printed copy of each. Border officers can ask to see any of them.
- PassportValid for your whole course if possible; check the expiry date before you book.
- Visa or permit approvalSticker, eVisa (UK) or approval letter. For the UK, your eVisa must be linked to the passport you travel on.
- University offer and enrolment lettersCAS (UK), CoE (Australia), letter of acceptance (Canada) or admission letter, with your student ID number.
- Proof of moneyBank statements, loan sanction letter or blocked account confirmation, the same ones you used for the visa.
- Fee receiptsTuition deposit and any accommodation payments.
- Health insurancePolicy or certificate number (OSHC, IHS reference, private cover) and the insurer's helpline.
- Medical papersTB test certificate (UK), any health examination results your visa needed, vaccination records and a doctor's note for any medicine you carry.
- Academic originalsClass 10 and 12 mark sheets, degree certificate and transcripts, English test score report.
- Accommodation detailsAddress, booking confirmation and the contact person for check-in.
- Passport photos6–8 recent photos for registrations, student cards and SIM forms.
- Emergency contactsFamily, university international office, your accommodation and the nearest Indian embassy or consulate, written on paper too.
Money
- Forex card loaded in the local currencySafer than cash and accepted almost everywhere. Keep the backup card separately.
- Some local cash for the first daysEnough for a taxi, food and a SIM card. Buy it from an authorised dealer in India before you fly.
- Indian rupees: up to ₹25,000The RBI limit on Indian currency notes a resident can take out of India (not to Nepal or Bhutan).
- Declare large amounts of cash on arrivalUK £10,000, Australia A$10,000, Canada C$10,000, New Zealand NZ$10,000 and EU countries €10,000 or more must be declared.
- Tell your Indian bank you're travellingSo your debit and credit cards aren't blocked abroad, and turn on international use.
- Plan how to pay rent and feesCheck how your university and landlord take payments, and the fees for sending money from India.
- Open a local bank account soon after you arriveYou will need your passport, permit or visa, enrolment letter and local address.
Before you fly
- Book accommodation for at least the first weeksNever pay a deposit for a private flat you haven't seen or verified. Many scams target new students.
- Arrange airport pickup or plan the routeMany universities run free pickups in welcome week; book early.
- Arrive a week or two before classesTime to register, open a bank account and get over jet lag before orientation.
- Check baggage rules with your airlineWeight limits, liquids in the cabin and power banks (usually hand luggage only).
- Get a phone plan readyAn international roaming pack or eSIM for the first days, then a local SIM.
- Medicine for a month or twoIn original packs with the prescription. Some medicines must be declared at the border.
- Scan everythingSave copies in your email and cloud storage, and share them with a family member.
- Read your university's arrival guideIt lists welcome week dates, registration steps and what to do in your first week.
What to pack
- Clothes for the climateLayers and a proper winter jacket for the UK, Ireland, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, the Baltics and New Zealand.
- Plug adaptersType G: UK, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, UAE. Type I: Australia, New Zealand. Types C/F: Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania. Types A/B: Canada.
- Laptop, phone, chargers and a power bankPower banks go in hand luggage.
- A small first-aid kitPlasters, pain relief, ORS sachets and any regular medicine.
- A few comfort itemsSpices and dry snacks only where they are allowed: Australia and New Zealand have strict food rules.
- One formal outfitFor interviews, events and part-time job trials.
Don't pack
- Fresh food, meat, dairy, eggs, seeds or plantsBanned or checked at many borders. In Australia, anything you don't declare can mean a fine of up to A$6,600.
- Heavy bedding and kitchen setsCheaper to buy locally than to pay for extra baggage.
- Original documents in the checked bagKeep them with you.
- Large amounts of cashUse a forex card, and declare cash over the limit.
At the airport when you land
- Fill in the arrival or passenger card honestlyIf you are unsure about food or medicine, declare it. Declaring is not an offence; hiding is.
- Keep your documents ready for the border officerPassport, visa, offer letter, accommodation address and proof of money.
- Message your family when you landUse airport Wi-Fi if your phone plan isn't working yet.
Your first weeks
- Register with your university and collect your student cardBring your passport, visa and offer letter.
- Complete any permit or address registrationSee the country list below for what applies where you study.
- Get a local SIM and save local emergency numbers
- Register with a doctor or the campus health centre
- Apply for a tax number before you start part-time workFor example a National Insurance number (UK), Tax File Number (Australia), SIN (Canada), IRD number (New Zealand) or PPSN (Ireland).
- Learn your work-hour limitWorking more than your visa allows can cancel it.
- Keep your documents safeLock originals away and carry copies or the digital version day to day.
After you arrive: country by country
The first official steps in each country, from our country guides. Your university's arrival guide has the exact dates.
| Country | What to do after you arrive |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Your permission is an eVisa: sign in to your UKVI account and keep it linked to your passport. Register with a GP. |
| Ireland | Register with immigration for your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) with Stamp 2; the €300 fee is paid at registration. |
| Germany | Register your address, enrol, take out German student health insurance, then apply at the Foreigners' Office for your residence permit. |
| Netherlands | Register at your city hall (bring your apostilled birth certificate) and collect your residence permit card from the IND. |
| Spain | Apply for your TIE card within one month of arrival if you are staying more than six months. |
| Malta | Register at your institution, complete the health screening (and chest X-ray if required) and apply to Identità for your residence permit. |
| Cyprus | Register and give biometrics within 7 days; the medical tests are repeated in Cyprus. |
| Latvia | Declare your address, take the chest X-ray at a Latvian clinic, show your health insurance and collect your residence permit card. |
| Lithuania | Declare your place of residence within the deadline your university gives you. |
| Dubai (UAE) | Complete the medical fitness test and give biometrics for your Emirates ID. |
| Canada | Show the port of entry letter at the border to receive your study permit, then apply for a SIN before you work. |
| Australia | Keep your Overseas Student Health Cover active, update your address with your provider and apply for a Tax File Number before you work. |
| New Zealand | Keep your approved insurance active and apply for an IRD number before you start work. |
Get the checklist as a PDF
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Still applying? Use the document checklist for admission and visa papers, the student visa guide and the Mantra Cost Planner to plan your monthly budget.
Travel checklist: common questions
Which documents should I carry in my hand luggage?
Your passport, visa or eVisa details, university offer letter (CAS, CoE or letter of acceptance), proof of money, fee receipts, health insurance details, medical certificates and academic originals. Keep printed copies and scans too.
How much cash can I carry when I go to study abroad?
You can take up to ₹25,000 in Indian notes out of India. Buy foreign currency from an authorised dealer, and carry most of your money on a forex card. On arrival, the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and EU countries ask you to declare cash of 10,000 or more in their currency.
Can I take Indian food with me?
Packed dry food and spices are allowed in many countries but must be declared in some, and fresh food, meat, dairy, eggs and seeds are often banned. Australia and New Zealand are the strictest: declare all food or leave it at home.
When should I arrive before my course starts?
About one to two weeks before classes or orientation, so you can settle in, register and open a bank account. Check your visa: some only let you enter a set number of days before the course starts.
Sources
Official pages we checked on 26 October 2026. Country steps come from our country guides, which list their own sources.
- Reserve Bank of India: export and import of currency (FEMA 6(R)), Indian notes up to ₹25,000
- GOV.UK: take cash in and out of the UK
- AUSTRAC: moving money across international borders (Australia)
- Study Australia: what can I bring to Australia
- Canada Border Services Agency: cross-border currency reporting
- New Zealand Customs: Border Cash Report
- European Commission: EU cash controls
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