Ausbildung Programme Germany

Your Pre-Departure Checklist: What to Sort and Pack Before You Fly to Germany

The last step before the big one

You've done the hard part - the German, the interview, the visa. Now comes the strangely stressful bit: what do you actually take? Families tend to overpack the wrong things and forget the crucial ones. This is the honest, practical checklist to get it right, so you arrive prepared and travel light. The golden rule up front: most everyday things are easy to buy in Germany, so pack the essentials, not your whole house.

1. Documents - the truly important part

If you get one section right, make it this one. These are the things that are painful or impossible to replace once you've left. Carry them in your hand luggage, never checked-in, and keep both physical photocopies and digital scans (email them to yourself and your parents):

• Passport and visa - obviously, but check the passport validity has plenty of time left.
• Your Conditional Offer Letter and training contract documents.
• Academic certificates and your German language certificate (originals plus copies).
• Blocked-account confirmation and other financial documents.
• Passport-size biometric photos - carry a good stack, you'll need them for German paperwork.
• Any medical records or prescriptions (more on this below).

2. Money for the first few weeks

Don't land cash-less. Germany is still cash-friendly, and you'll want money before your German bank account and first stipend arrive. Carry a sensible amount of euros in cash for the first weeks (including coins for transport from the airport), plus a working international card as backup. Having a cushion for those first days removes a lot of arrival stress.

3. Medicines - a genuine surprise for Indians

This one catches people out, so pay attention: Germany has strict pharmacy rules, and even basic medicines often need a prescription. Bring a personal stock of any regular medication and a small kit for common ailments - along with a doctor's letter in English explaining anything you take regularly, to avoid questions at customs. This is one of the few things genuinely worth carrying from India.

4. Clothes - pack less than you think

Here's where families most overpack. The counter-intuitive truth: buy your serious winter gear in Germany, not India. German winter jackets and boots are better suited to the cold, better quality and often cheaper than in India - and Indian winter wear frequently isn't warm enough anyway. So bring layers and enough to survive your first days comfortably, then buy your proper winter coat and boots once you arrive. Pack for the season you're landing in, not the whole year.

5. A taste of home

You can buy Indian ingredients in Germany - but they're pricier and take time to track down, so a starter supply smooths the first weeks. Worth carrying: a small selection of your favourite spices and masalas, some pickle, and a few instant/quick-cook items for the days before your kitchen is set up. Keep it modest and within your baggage limit - it's a bridge for the first fortnight, not a year's supply.

6. The practical bits people forget

• A European travel adapter - Indian plugs don't fit German sockets.
• Your laptop, phone and all chargers, in hand luggage.
• Comfort layers for the flight and the first cold night (bedding usually isn't included in accommodation).
• Useful apps downloaded before you fly - the DB (rail) app, offline maps, a transfer app.
• Your baggage allowance checked in advance - typically around 23 kg per checked bag; confirm with your airline.

Your pre-departure timeline

Your questions, answered

What's the one thing I absolutely must not forget?

Your documents - passport, visa, contract papers, certificates - in your hand luggage, with physical and digital copies. Everything else can be bought again in Germany; these can't, easily. Carrying a stack of biometric photos is a close second, as German paperwork eats them.

Should I bring lots of winter clothes?

No - bring enough to survive your first days, then buy proper winter gear in Germany. German jackets and boots are warmer, better quality and often cheaper, and Indian winter wear often isn't enough for the German cold. Overpacking heavy clothing is the most common mistake.

Can I bring Indian food and medicines?

Bring a modest supply of spices, pickle and quick-cook items for the first weeks - stick to sealed, labelled packaging and reasonable quantities. For medicines, bring your regular medication plus a doctor's note in English, since Germany's pharmacy rules are strict and even basic medicines can need a prescription.

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