Pre-departure checklist for Nepali students going abroad
Everything to prepare before you fly: travel documents, money and banking, packing rules, and what to do in your first week as an international student.
Carry key documents in your hand luggage, plan your first month's money, check the food and medicine rules for your destination, and complete orientation in your first week.
Documents to carry in your hand luggage
Keep these with you, not in checked baggage. Border officers may ask to see them on arrival.
Save scans of everything to secure cloud storage and share copies with a family member.
Money and banking
- Carry some foreign currency bought through a licensed bank or money exchanger, enough for your first days. Declare cash above the limit set by Nepal and your destination.
- Get an international debit or prepaid card from your Nepali bank as a backup.
- Plan your first month’s budget: rent deposit, transport card, SIM, groceries and textbooks.
- Open a local bank account soon after arrival using your passport, visa and address proof.
What to pack, and what not to
- Medicines in original packaging with a doctor’s prescription in English.
- Clothing for the climate at your destination. Buy heavy winter coats locally if you are heading somewhere very cold.
- Adapters for the destination’s power sockets.
- Food items: countries such as Australia and New Zealand have strict biosecurity rules. Declare all food on arrival, and leave behind items like meat products, seeds and fresh produce.
- Check airline baggage limits for weight and number of bags before you pack.
Declaring an item costs nothing. Undeclared prohibited goods can lead to heavy fines at the border.
Your first week abroad
- Attend orientation, where you enrol, get your student ID and learn campus services.
- Buy a local SIM card and share your new number with family and your institution.
- Apply for your tax number if you plan to work, such as a TFN in Australia, National Insurance number in the UK, or SIN in Canada.
- Learn your work-hour limits and visa conditions before accepting any job.
- Save the contact details of the Embassy of Nepal in your destination country and your institution’s emergency line.
Questions students ask
Should I arrange accommodation before flying?
Yes, at least for the first few weeks. Temporary housing gives you time to inspect longer-term options in person and avoid rental scams.
When should I arrive?
Arrive before orientation, usually one to two weeks before classes start, and within any dates allowed by your visa.
What if my flight is delayed and I miss orientation?
Email your institution’s international office as soon as you know. Most can help you catch up on enrolment.
Talk to a Shrey Education counsellor.
We can review your documents, course choice and budget before you apply.
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