Documents (do this first)

Passport with at least 18 months validity, original offer letter, CAS / I-20 / COE depending on country, visa vignette in passport, certified copies of all academic transcripts and certificates, English test results, financial sponsorship letter, accommodation confirmation, and 6 passport photos. Make digital copies in two separate cloud drives.

Money and connectivity

Open a multi-currency account (Wise, Revolut or similar) before you fly so you can land with local currency on day one. Pre-order a destination SIM or eSIM. Carry the equivalent of 1 week of living costs in cash for the first 48 hours. Notify your home bank of travel dates to avoid card freezes.

Health and wellbeing

Vaccination records, repeat prescriptions with a doctor's letter (English translation if needed), 3 months of any regular medication, your country's required medical insurance, and a basic first-aid kit. Register with your university's GP practice within the first week of arrival.

The 24th thing nobody packs

A printed contact card — emergency contacts back home, your university's international office, your local embassy and your GUG counselor — kept in your wallet. Phones die; printed cards do not. We hand one to every GUG student before they board.