Your first week abroad: an arrival checklist

The short answer

The first week is easier if you do things in order: keep your documents safe, get connected, get to your accommodation, enrol with your university, and then handle local setup such as a bank account and registrations. Use this list as a base and add anything your university or visa decision tells you.

Before you leave the airport

To do: Passport, visa documents and university letters in hand luggage
To do: Letters your visa decision tells you to show at the border
To do: Your accommodation address and contact number
To do: A way to get data or calls, such as an eSIM or local SIM
To do: Some local currency or a card that works for your first purchases
To do: Your airport transfer or transport plan

Day 1 to 2

To do: Check in to your accommodation and take photos of its condition
To do: Tell your family you have arrived safely
To do: Charge your phone, set up your data and save emergency numbers
To do: Buy essentials: bedding, food, a local adapter if you need one
To do: Rest. Jet lag is real.

Day 2 to 4: university

To do: Attend orientation and collect your student ID
To do: Complete enrolment and any registration your university asks for
To do: Find out where to get help: international office, health service, accommodation team
To do: Check your timetable and course platform logins

Day 3 to 7: local setup

To do: Open a bank account, if you have not already
To do: Get a local transport card or learn the fares
To do: Register with a doctor or clinic, if your country needs this
To do: Do any official registrations your country requires

Country-specific reminders

UK: follow your visa decision's instructions to prove your status, and register with a GP.
Australia: keep your OSHC details handy, and if you plan to work, apply for a tax file number.
Canada: check your health coverage, and if you plan to work, apply for a Social Insurance Number.
Germany: register your address (Anmeldung), usually within two weeks of moving in, and enrol with your health insurance proof.

Safety and money tips

Keep digital copies of key documents in a secure place
Do not carry everything in one bag
Be careful with public Wi-Fi when you use banking apps
Keep your Indian SIM or number active if your bank sends one-time passwords to it

Common mistakes

Putting documents in checked luggage
Skipping orientation
Waiting weeks to register with a doctor
Forgetting to tell your university you have arrived

Verify before you act

Requirements are set by each country and your university and change from time to time. Check your university's arrival guide and the official pages for your destination: