USA
Canada
UK
Australia
New Zealand
Ireland
France
Germany
- Getting from the airport to your accommodation on day one
- Registration, bank account and local number in the first week
- What to do if accommodation falls through after you land
- Someone to call while you find your feet
Overview
The first weeks in a new country come with a list of tasks that have to be done in a particular order: getting from the airport to your accommodation, collecting keys, getting a local phone number, opening a bank account, registering with the university, and completing whatever local registrations your destination requires. Each one tends to need a document from the one before.
The details vary by country. Some destinations require international students to register with local authorities or collect a residence document after arrival. Many require a tax or social insurance number before you can start part-time work. Some require you to register with a local doctor or confirm your health cover. Universities usually run an orientation week, and the formalities they ask you to complete in that week matter.
We brief you on what the first weeks look like for your destination and your university, help you prepare the documents you will need, and stay reachable after you land for questions about next steps. Where a question needs an official answer — from your university, your bank or an immigration office — we point you to the right place rather than guess.
We do not claim to arrange services on the ground unless that has been agreed with you in writing, and we never ask you to pay anyone you have not verified. Airport pickup, accommodation and other local services are provided by universities or third parties on their own terms.
How it works
The first fortnight abroad is a sequence of small tasks, each depending on the last. The steps below follow the order most students need them in.
Arrival plan
How you will get from the airport to your accommodation, and what to do if a flight is delayed.
First-day essentials
A local SIM or eSIM, access to money and letting family know you have arrived safely.
University registration
Orientation, enrolment and the documents the university asks you to present.
Local registrations
Any residence, tax or health registrations your destination requires, in the right order.
Bank account and budgeting
Opening a local account and setting up a realistic weekly budget.
Ongoing support
You can reach us after you land with questions about what to do next.
What you get
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Know what comes first
Tasks explained in the order they need doing, so one does not hold up another.
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Documents ready in advance
The papers you need for registration and banking prepared before you fly.
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Destination-specific guidance
Local registrations and requirements explained for your country and city.
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Safety first
Practical advice on avoiding scams that target newly arrived students.
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Still reachable after you land
The relationship continues after the airport, with pointers to official help when needed.
Documents you will need
- Passport with visa — Keep it with you until your local registrations are complete.
- Offer and enrolment letters — Needed for university registration and often for opening a bank account.
- Accommodation contract — Proof of address is often required for banking and local registration.
- Health cover documents — Your insurance certificate and any registration details your destination requires.
- Passport photographs and copies — Several photographs and copies of key documents, kept separately from the originals.
What this leaves you with
A first few weeks spent settling in and starting your course, rather than chasing paperwork.
- A clear plan for getting from the airport to your accommodation on arrival day.
- The documents you need for registration, banking and local formalities ready in advance.
- An understanding of the order in which the first tasks need to be done.
- A point of contact for questions after you land, and the right official contacts when a decision is not ours to make.
Local rules, university procedures and bank requirements are set by those bodies and change over time. We help you prepare for them; we cannot override them.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do in my first week abroad?
Get settled into your accommodation, get a local phone number, attend orientation, complete university registration, and start any local registrations your destination requires.
Your university's international office usually publishes an arrival checklist, which is worth reading before you fly.
Do you arrange airport pickup?
Many universities offer airport pickup for new international students, and some accommodation providers do too. Availability and terms are set by them.
We help you find out what your university offers and plan an alternative if it is not available.
How do I open a bank account abroad?
Usually with your passport, visa, proof of enrolment and proof of address. Some banks let students begin the process before arrival.
Requirements differ by bank and country, so check your chosen bank's current list.
Do I need to register with the local authorities?
In some countries, yes. Some require international students to register an address, collect a residence document, or register with the police or local council within a set period after arrival.
Check the official requirements for your destination and follow any deadlines exactly.
Can I contact you after I arrive?
Yes. You can reach us with questions after you land.
For decisions that belong to your university, bank or an immigration office, we will point you to the right official contact rather than guess.
How can I avoid scams after arriving?
Be wary of calls or messages claiming to be from immigration, police or tax authorities and demanding immediate payment. Official bodies do not work that way.
Never pay for accommodation you have not verified, and check any suspicious contact with your university's international office.
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