Before Departure

UK Student Pre-departure Checklist: 90, 30 and 7 Days Before Travel

A staged checklist for immigration documents, accommodation, money, luggage, communication and the journey to your UK address.

Last reviewed: 2026-06-05 Reading time: About 3 min Risk level: Medium
International student organising documents, luggage and a pre-departure checklist

Short answer

Use the 90-day stage for immigration, accommodation and money; the 30-day stage for documents, payments and luggage; and the final week for confirmation, backups and arrival logistics.

Who this is for

For students who have received an offer and are preparing immigration documents, accommodation or travel, and for families helping with final checks.

  • Students moving to the UK for the first time
  • Parents helping with preparation
  • Students waiting for immigration or accommodation confirmation

What to prepare

  • Passport, CAS, offer and immigration information
  • Accommodation confirmation and move-in instructions
  • Tuition, accommodation and backup payment plan
  • Flight and route to accommodation
  • Health and emergency contact information

Steps

  1. About 90 days before travel, confirm your passport, CAS, immigration route, tuition and accommodation plan.
  2. Between 60 and 30 days, confirm the move-in date and separate tuition, accommodation, living costs and backup payments.
  3. Around 30 days before travel, organise identity, university, accommodation, payment and travel documents.
  4. Between 30 and 14 days, plan luggage around airline limits, accommodation type and UK import rules.
  5. Between 14 and 7 days, confirm that you will have working communication and payment methods after arrival.
  6. In the final week, save the address, postcode, key collection details, travel route and emergency contacts offline.
  7. Within 48 hours of travel, share the flight, address, university contact and safe-arrival plan with family.

Common pitfalls

  • Treating shopping as the whole preparation process.
  • Keeping essential documents only in chat apps.
  • Packing CAS, accommodation or payment evidence in checked luggage.
  • Not confirming late arrival or key collection.

Official links

Check these sources before making decisions, especially for visa, healthcare, border, deposit and safety topics.

Final checklist

  • Identity, university and accommodation information backed up
  • Move-in details confirmed
  • Arrival communication and payment ready
  • Essential documents in hand luggage
  • Family holds itinerary and emergency contacts