It's exciting, no doubt: your first year abroad. A gap year packing list is next on the agenda. Maybe you've just finished school, vocational training or an apprenticeship. Now you want everything - but first, off abroad please. Uncharted territory. Gathering new experiences, meeting new people. Discovering new horizons and looking beyond your own backyard. You probably don't even mind sleeping in a dormitory with others, right? Or would you rather have a private room all to yourself? Anything is possible. But before that, you should know exactly what you need so you can travel carefree. Because that way you really do drive and fly with more peace of mind. If you want to go abroad, you should be aware that not everything will be like at home. It's surely exciting. But it's also a challenge. One you'll take on with ease, though. So what do you need for your year abroad? That question shouldn't go unanswered. You'll certainly need a basic supply of food and clothing as well as medication (observe the import regulations for this). Then nothing stands in the way of your successful year abroad. Your gap year packing list is further down in the text.

What should I keep in mind when packing for abroad?

You should always keep in mind what type of person you are. If you're pretty easygoing and don't mind traveling and sleeping with others, you may need to pack a bit less. A gap year packing list is indispensable for you. Basically you should always bring: a supply and something you might need urgently. If you're lucky enough to be with a host family, you can surely borrow things now and then. Most host families are happy to take you in and help you. Valuable cultural exchange is the thanks. The gap year packing list helps you keep track of everything!

Gap year packing list

List of essentials for your year abroad

For your year abroad you definitely need:

  • No. 1: of course MONEY in the local currency!
  • Travel first-aid kit (sunscreen, fever reducer, anti-diarrhea medication, mosquito bite ointment, antibiotics, band-aids, eye drops, nasal drops, painkillers, skin creams)
  • Clothing (warm and cooler, tops and bottoms - adapted to your destination and the length of your stay, swimwear, shoes, flip-flops, a thick jacket, jeans, shorts, rainproof clothing, accessories)
  • Food (ideally cans or homemade food that keeps a long time, a few soups, long-lasting canned goods, something to drink, and maybe a small electric kettle too, because you don't know whether you can drink the water at your destination)
  • Travel documents - very important - since otherwise you can't cross borders - visa, passport, personal documents, ID card, work permit, EFTA, etc. photo ID, possibly a health certificate
  • If you also want to work in the country, please clarify the work permit and the formalities beforehand. Taking care of it afterward is often very difficult.

Those would be the most important things on the gap year packing list.