Prepare to depart
Once the visa is approved, the practical countdown starts. Good preparation in the last few weeks avoids expensive mistakes and takes the stress out of the first days abroad.
What this step involves
When: 1–2 months before departure · starts the day your visa arrives
Book flights wisely
Aim to arrive a week or two before orientation. Check your visa's earliest entry date and your airline's baggage allowance before you pay.
Confirm accommodation
Book university halls or verified private housing before you fly, at least for the first few weeks. Never send large sums to a landlord you cannot verify.
Arrange your money
Carry a limited amount of foreign currency within Bangladesh Bank's travel limits, endorsed on your passport as required. Use your student file for further remittances, and open a local account soon after arrival.
Organise your documents
Keep originals in your hand luggage: passport, visa, offer and enrolment letters, financial proof, insurance, certificates and accommodation confirmation. Store scans in the cloud and leave a set with your family.
Pack smart
Bring clothing for the climate — proper winter clothes for Canada, the UK, Ireland and New Zealand — plus plug adaptors and any prescription medicines with a doctor's letter. Many countries restrict food, seeds and medicines, so declare what you carry.
Phone and connectivity
Check whether your Bangladeshi number can roam for the first few days, and look up local SIM or eSIM options before you land.
Attend a pre-departure briefing
Learn about local culture, classroom expectations, academic integrity, part-time work rules and how to handle culture shock.
Your checklist for this step
- Book flights
- Confirm accommodation
- Arrange an airport pickup or plan the route
- Carry foreign currency within the legal limit
- Pack originals in hand luggage; save digital copies
- Get prescriptions and a doctor's letter
- Pack for the climate
- Save emergency contacts, including the Bangladesh mission
- Attend a pre-departure briefing
- Tell your university your arrival date
How Khan Eduway helps at this step
- A free pre-departure briefing at our office, with students going to the same country
- Help with accommodation, health cover, money transfer and a local SIM through our student essentials
- Introductions to Bangladeshi students already at your university where we can
Questions about this step
How early should I arrive?
Usually one to two weeks before classes, within the dates your visa allows.
Will someone meet me at the airport?
Many universities offer a free or low-cost airport pickup if you book it in advance. We remind you to book it.
Can I bring food from Bangladesh?
Some packaged items are allowed, but declare all food at customs. Fresh produce and meat are often banned, and Australia and New Zealand are especially strict.
Ready for step 6? We can take it with you.
Free counselling at our Lalmatia office or on WhatsApp. We will check where you are and write down exactly what comes next.