If you’re getting ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, then this moving abroad packing list is here to help! Whether you’re planning an international relocation for work or for personal reasons, it’s important to know exactly what items should be included in your suitcase and which can stay behind. Here’s everything you need to make sure that your move abroad goes as smoothly as possible!
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What to pack when moving to a different country
Moving to a new country can be an exciting, life-changing experience. However, packing for such a big move can also be mega overwhelming. To make the process a bit easier, here are some essential types of items you’ll want to pack when moving abroad.
Practical items: This includes items that you’ll need immediately when arriving to your new home country. Think season-appropriate clothing, medication, toiletries, electronics (with chargers and country-specific power adaptors!), and pet supplies. Try to pack as much of this category in your carry-on luggage as possible to reduce risks of being separated in transit!
Important documents: This includes your passport, visa or residency permit, birth certificate, and any other relevant documents required by the country you’re moving to. You’ll also want to make sure that all of these papers are photocopied and saved on your phone and computer in case they get lost en route.
Sentimental items: These are often overlooked when packing for a big move, but they shouldn’t be underestimated! Sentimental items have a way of making us feel connected with our home and past, so it’s important to remember to bring them along on your journey. Think photo albums, books, jewelry, family heirlooms, Christmas ornaments, etc.
Moving abroad packing list
This ultimate packing list is filled with all of the essential items you’ll need for your overseas move. Keep in mind that this is just a starting point — you’ll definitely have to tailor this list to your situation and priorities!
Practical items
Electronics
Electronics are vital for everyday life, especially if you’ll be working abroad. Before you leave, check that you have a solid travel adapter (or a portable battery pack) to keep your devices charged.
If your international move is temporary, you may want to keep your original cell phone number — this will probably include paying for an expensive roaming plan in your home country. If that doesn’t matter to you (or you’re in it for the long haul), it’s worth it to purchase a local SIM card on arrival. Your phone will have to be unlocked by your provider before you leave.
- Laptop
- Cell phone
- Smartwatch
- Portable charger
- Headphones
- Kindle or other e-reader
- Camera
- Tablet
- Portable speaker
- External hard drives
- Memory cards
- Chargers and adapters
Clothing
When deciding what clothing to pack for your long distance move, consider the type of climate and lifestyle you’re adapting to. Will you need heavy winter gear or skimpy swimwear? If you already have a job secured, will you need to wear business casual?
Packing up a large amount of clothing can be a hassle. It’s a good idea to take advantage of vacuum bags and packing cubes to maximize the space in your carry-on luggage. Also keep in mind that you can always buy new clothes at your destination!
- Activewear
- Winter coats
- Pajamas
- Bras and underwear
- Socks
- Favorite jeans
- Rain jacket
- Swimsuits
- Comfortable shoes
Toiletries
While you’ll usually be able to buy all of these things after your relocation date, different countries have different brands and types of products on offer. Having your favorite items on hand can bring a little bit of comfort and peace of mind during a stressful time.
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Deodorant
- Sunscreen
- Razors and shaving cream
- Nail clippers
- Tweezers
- Skin care
- Lotion
- Makeup
- Period products
Medication & health
You’ll want to check that each of your prescriptions are legal in the country you’re moving to. Some places will put limits on the amount you can bring in at once, while others will classify typical over-the-counter medicines as prescription-only.
- Prescription medication
- Allergy pills
- Vitamins
- Birth control
- Glasses and contact lenses
- First aid kits
Essential documents
You’ll often have to deal with a lot of logistical red tape when moving to a foreign country. Having all of your travel documents together in a safe place will make applying for visas, signing up for services, and getting a job much easier.
Bring the original documents, but also make sure that you have copies of everything. The last thing you’ll want to deal with when moving to a new city is having to replace all of your legal documents!
- Passport
- Visa and residency documents
- Birth certificate
- Drivers license (and international drivers license, if you have one)
- Debit cards and credit cards
- College transcripts
- Marriage certificate
- Medical records
- Copies of prescriptions
- Pet health and vaccination documents
- Travel insurance records
Sentimental items
Having sentimental, personal items on hand during your first week in a new location can be really comforting. Putting these items on your packing checklist is a great way to connect with your past and prepare you for your new adventure.
- Jewelry
- Notebooks and journals
- Yearbooks
- Family photos
- Recipe books
- Cards from loved ones
- Christmas ornaments
- Favorite blankets and pillows
- Artwork
- Hobby items
- Sports gear and equipment
- Favorite snacks that you can’t get in your new country
What *not* to pack when moving abroad
Larger electronics and appliances (TV, microwave, blender, etc.): These are hefty, hard to pack, and will most likely incur excess baggage fees. Sell the ones you currently own and buy new ones that won’t require a voltage converter!
Pots and pans: While these are necessary items, they also take up a lot of space and are cumbersome to pack. Take them off of your moving abroad packing list and buy them new once you reach your destination.
Things you don’t already use: If there are some household items you’ve been holding on to but haven’t used for a while, you probably won’t use them when you arrive at your new destination. Take stock of what you don’t use in your current home — if you do end up needing it later, you can always buy it there.
How to pack for an international move
Packing correctly for an international move is essential — you definitely don’t want your items getting banged up in transit!
Before even starting to pack, it’s important to create a list of all of the items you’ll need. That way, you’ll get a big picture overview of just how much stuff you need to organize. (Hopefully, this moving abroad packing list will give you a head start!)
Once you’re at the packing stage, you’ll need to invest in bubble wrap or other protective packaging materials to secure fragile items during transit. If you’re bringing large furniture, you’ll want to make sure the pieces are taken apart properly before packing them up so they can fit easily into your shipping container.
Try to organize all of your packed up boxes or suitcases by room, category, or type of item. If possible, label the outside of the container so you know what’s what.
Other useful packing tips
Bring less
Honestly, moving abroad will probably be stressful no matter what — there are a lot of logistics to handle and hurdles to jump over. One of the best tips to make it as stress-free as possible is to bring less stuff overall.
Reducing the amount of physical items that need to be packed can save time and money on moving costs. When you have fewer items to pack, it’s also easier to organize your belongings, making it less likely that you’ll forget or misplace something important!
Moving abroad is a fresh start and having fewer possessions to worry about can be the best way to make the entire process easier.
Be realistic
It’s easy to be idealistic during the packing process. Having sentimental attachments makes it harder to part with items that aren’t really realistic for your new lifestyle.
When I moved to the south of France to study abroad for 10 months, I brought a massive suitcase, a large carry-on bag, and an overstuffed backpack. (I wanted to make sure I had a cute outfit for every impromptu dinner party and weekend trip!)
In reality, I probably only wore about one-third of what I brought — because I wanted to seem more French, I also ended up buying a lot of new things when I got there. If I was honest with myself before leaving, I would have realized that I tend to rewear the same outfit over and over again.
Ultimately, you’ll need to really think about whether the things you’re bringing are necessary. Is it worth the effort of packing them up and (potentially) paying a lot of money to ship them? If you’re downsizing, do you really have the space in your new home? Everyone’s priorities are different, so you’ll need to decide what’s most important to you.
Double- (and triple-) check your list
One of the most essential packing tips is to double-check your list once you think you’re done.
There’s nothing worse than realizing you’ve forgotten to bring something really important. Whether it’s your passport, a sentimental piece of jewelry, or your travel adapter, dealing with sending it or replacing it is a hassle.
Besides saving you some heartache, double-checking your packing list can also help you determine which of the items you’ve packed are unnecessary. The weight allowance set by your airline or moving company can be strict, so paring down what you pack can save a lot of money in the long run.
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Thanks for checking out this moving abroad packing list!
xoxo Niki
