What to take abroad: my essential packing list

I have packed my life into suitcases more times than I can count: when I left Canada to teach abroad, when I moved to Egypt, to Malaysia, to Uruguay and, most recently, to Colombia. With every move, my luggage became lighter and smarter. In the beginning, I carried far too many things "just in case", and I paid for it in excess baggage fees and sore shoulders. Today I travel with what I truly need, and I have learned that almost everything else can be found, bought or borrowed at the destination.

This guide shares my personal checklist for living or travelling abroad for months: what is essential, what is useful, what you can leave at home, and the "invisible" things that matter more than any object. If you are planning a long trip, read also how to plan long-term travel.

1. Documents: the absolute priority

Everything else can be replaced. Documents are difficult, slow and expensive to replace abroad. Before packing anything else, organise these:

• Passport with enough validity. Many countries require at least six months of validity beyond your planned stay. Check official sources for your destination.
• Visa or residence documents, printed and digital, if your destination requires them.
• National ID or a second form of identification.
• Driving licence, and an international driving permit if needed.
• Academic and professional certificates if you plan to work, study or apply for a visa. Some countries require apostilled or legalised documents; for example, my teaching certificates and diplomas have been important for my professional life abroad.
• Health insurance policy and emergency contact numbers.
• Proof of onward travel or accommodation, if required at immigration.

How to protect your documents

Keep originals in a secure place, carry a copy when you go out, and store encrypted digital copies in a secure cloud service that you can access from any device. Share copies with a trusted family member. Never send copies of your documents to unknown people or websites.

2. Money tools

• At least two bank cards from different banks or networks, kept in different places.
• A card with low foreign transaction fees.
• Some cash in the local currency for your first day: taxi, food, a SIM card.
• A small emergency reserve in a widely accepted currency.
• Your banking apps set up and tested, with two-factor authentication that will work abroad. If your bank sends codes by SMS, check how you will receive them with a foreign SIM.

3. Health and personal care

• Prescription medicines for several weeks, in their original packaging, with a copy of the prescription.
• Glasses or contact lenses, plus a spare pair and the prescription.
• A small first-aid kit: plasters, pain relief, rehydration salts, antiseptic, insect repellent and sunscreen.
• Vaccination records. Some destinations recommend or require specific vaccines; check with a travel health professional and official sources before you go.

Most toiletries can be bought locally, so pack only small sizes for the first days.

4. Technology for remote work

As a teacher who has worked fully online since 2017, my technology is my office. This is what I always carry:

• A reliable laptop with its charger.
• Good headphones with a microphone. Audio quality matters more than video quality in classes and meetings.
• A smartphone, unlocked so it accepts local SIM cards or eSIMs.
• A universal travel adapter and, if possible, a small power strip.
• A power bank for long journeys and power cuts.
• A portable laptop stand and a compact keyboard and mouse for better posture.
• A mobile data backup plan: a local SIM with data that you can use as a hotspot if the internet fails.
• Important files backed up in the cloud and on an external drive.

Read my telework guide and English for remote work.

5. Clothing: versatile, comfortable and adapted to the climate

Research the climate of your destination for every season you will spend there. Colombia, for example, does not have the four seasons of Canada; temperature depends mainly on altitude. In Manizales, at more than 2,000 metres, evenings are cool and rain is frequent, so I need layers and a good rain jacket. On the Caribbean coast, the heat requires light clothing.

• Choose clothes that combine easily, in neutral colours with a few colourful pieces.
• Pack layers: T-shirts, a warm sweater, a light jacket and a waterproof jacket.
• Comfortable walking shoes, sandals and one pair of smarter shoes.
• One or two smart outfits for professional video calls, interviews or special events.
• Clothing that respects local customs, especially when visiting religious sites. In Egypt and Malaysia, for example, covering shoulders and knees is appreciated in many places. Read cultural etiquette around the world.

A simple rule: pack for one week and plan to do laundry.

6. Useful small items

• A reusable water bottle and, if needed, a filter.
• A light day backpack.
• A padlock for lockers and luggage.
• A small umbrella.
• Earplugs and an eye mask for noisy nights.
• A notebook and pen, for new words and phone numbers.
• Foldable shopping bags.

7. Personal comforts

When you live far away, small familiar objects make a big difference on difficult days. I always carry a few photos of family, a favourite tea, a book I love and a small object from each country where I have lived. They take almost no space, but they make any apartment feel like home.

8. What to leave at home

• Large quantities of toiletries.
• Clothes "just in case" that you have not worn in a year.
• Expensive jewellery and valuables you would be sad to lose.
• Heavy books (use an e-reader).
• Electrical appliances with a different voltage, such as hair dryers, unless they are dual voltage.
• Kitchen equipment: you can usually buy it cheaply at your destination.

9. The invisible essentials

The most important things I pack do not go in a suitcase.

Basic phrases in the local language

Before I arrive in a new country, I learn greetings, numbers, "please", "thank you", "excuse me", "how much is it?" and "I don't understand". These few words change how people receive you. When I travel to countries where English is used, my students often ask me for travel phrases; read travel English for airports and hotels.

Patience

Flights are delayed, paperwork takes time and things work differently. Patience saves energy and friendships.

An open mind

Your way of doing things is one way, not the only way. Curiosity turns differences into discoveries.

A sense of humour

You will make mistakes with the language, get lost and order the wrong dish. Laugh. It is part of the adventure.

10. Before you leave: a final checklist

1. Check the entry requirements and visa rules on the official website of your destination.
2. Inform your bank about your travel plans if necessary.
3. Buy health and travel insurance that covers long stays.
4. Set up your phone for international use.
5. Download offline maps and translation apps.
6. Organise your mail and bills at home.
7. Prepare a list of emergency contacts, including your country's embassy or consulate.
8. Book the first nights of accommodation.

Packing according to the length of your stay

Sustainable packing

Long-term travellers have a special responsibility towards the places they visit. Some simple choices reduce your impact: a reusable water bottle, a cloth shopping bag, a reusable coffee cup, solid shampoo and soap without plastic packaging, reef-safe sunscreen if you will swim in the sea, and a small container for leftovers from restaurants. When I lived near the Red Sea in Egypt, I saw how fragile coral reefs are, and since then I always think about what I bring and what I leave behind.

Packing vocabulary in English

Because I am an English teacher, I cannot resist including a short vocabulary list. These words are useful at airports, in shops and when you ask for help:

• Carry-on / hand luggage: the small bag you take on the plane.
• Checked luggage / checked bag: the suitcase that travels in the hold.
• Excess baggage: luggage above the allowed weight; you pay extra.
• Baggage allowance: the weight or number of bags included in your ticket.
• Toiletries: soap, shampoo, toothpaste and similar items.
• Adapter / converter: an adapter changes the plug shape; a converter changes the voltage.
• To pack / to unpack: to put things in / take things out of your suitcase.
• To travel light: to travel with very little luggage.

Useful sentences: "How many bags can I check?" / "Is this bag too heavy?" / "Where can I buy an adapter?" / "I'd like to check this suitcase, please." Read travel English for airports and hotels.

My packing evolution

On my first move abroad, I carried two large suitcases and a heavy backpack. Today, for a long stay, I carry one medium suitcase, a backpack with my work equipment and a small bag. I have discovered that every country has excellent markets and shops, that local clothes are often better adapted to the climate, and that buying locally helps me connect with the place. The lighter my luggage, the freer I feel.

Mistakes I made so you don't have to

• Packing for the wrong climate. I once arrived in a mountain city with summer clothes only, believing that "South America is always hot". I spent my first week buying sweaters.
• Carrying originals everywhere. Walking around with my passport every day was a risk I did not need. Now I carry a copy and keep the original safe.
• Forgetting adapters. Plugs change from country to country. A universal adapter costs little and saves a lot of stress.
• Not testing my bank cards. One card was blocked on arrival because the bank detected "unusual activity". Always carry a second card.
• Overpacking books. I loved them, but they were the heaviest items in my luggage. An e-reader solved the problem.

Packing for Colombia: a few specific tips

• Bring layers if you will visit cities in the mountains, such as Bogotá or Manizales, and light clothing for the coast.
• A good rain jacket is useful almost everywhere.
• Comfortable shoes for steep streets and hikes.
• Sunscreen and a hat: at high altitude, the sun is strong even when it feels cool.
• Check the official requirements of Migración Colombia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you travel.

Read my Colombia travel guide and the advantages of living in Colombia.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most important thing to take abroad?

Your documents: a valid passport, visa or residence papers if required, and secure copies of all of them.

How much luggage do I need to live abroad?

Usually much less than you think. One medium suitcase and a backpack are enough for many people, since most things can be bought locally.

What technology do I need to work remotely abroad?

A reliable laptop, good headphones with a microphone, an unlocked phone, adapters, a power bank and a mobile data backup.

Should I take medicines from home?

Take enough prescription medicines for several weeks, in original packaging with a copy of the prescription, and check the rules of your destination.

What should I learn before moving abroad?

Basic phrases in the local language, local customs and the official entry and residence requirements.