Back to the checklist
Erasmus packing guide
Pack once, pack right. This guide covers what actually matters for a semester abroad — the paperwork you cannot replace, the gear that saves you money, and the things not worth the baggage allowance.
Documents (carry-on, never checked)
- •Passport or ID valid for the whole stay — plus a photocopy and a phone scan
- •Visa / residence permit paperwork and your acceptance letter
- •Signed Learning Agreement and any grant documents
- •EHIC card or private health insurance policy
- •Passport photos (many host universities and city halls still ask for them)
- •Debit/credit cards from two different banks, plus a little local cash
Clothing
- •Layers beat bulk — one warm coat, several thin layers
- •One smart outfit for presentations, welcome dinners and photos
- •Comfortable walking shoes; you will walk far more than at home
- •Sportswear if you plan to join a university club
- •A compact rain jacket or umbrella
Electronics
- •Travel adapter for your host country's sockets (Type C/F/G differ across Europe)
- •Laptop, charger and a spare phone cable
- •Power bank for travel days
- •Small extension lead — dorm rooms rarely have enough sockets
Health & toiletries
- •Prescription medication for the full stay, in original packaging with a doctor's note
- •A small first-aid kit: painkillers, plasters, cold medicine
- •Glasses/contact lenses spare pair and prescription
- •Buy bulky toiletries locally — do not fly shampoo across Europe
Dorm & everyday
- •Reusable water bottle and a tote bag
- •Towel and basic bedding if your accommodation doesn't provide them
- •A padlock for shared lockers or luggage
- •Something small from home for your room — it helps in week three
Leave at home
- •Heavy textbooks — the host library or PDFs will cover you
- •Full-size hairdryers and kitchen gear; buy second-hand there
- •More than a week of clothes you won't wear
- •Valuables you'd be devastated to lose
A last-minute rule of thumb
If you can buy it within a 10-minute walk of your new home for under €20, leave it. Use the space for documents, medication and the things that are genuinely hard to replace abroad.