Internship abroad packing tips are essential for a smooth start to your adventure. Packing for an eight-week internship is no easy task. It’s not a vacation, but it’s not a permanent move either. Striking a balance between overpacking and realizing you have no clean clothes after day two is more difficult than most people think. That’s where we come in.
Here are our internship abroad packing tips to help you stay organized, travel light, and feel prepared for both workdays and weekend adventures:
LESS IS MORE
It’s so easy to overpack. Most of us bring giant suitcases on short vacations and only wear half of what we take. For eight weeks, you’ll need more than that—but not that much more. The key is to pack smart.
A tried-and-true tip from seasoned travelers: lay out everything you think you need, then remove a third of it. (More if you’re feeling brave.) Chances are, you won’t miss it.
Stick to clothes that mix and match easily. If you’re already into fashion, you know that a dozen versatile pieces can turn into 20+ unique outfits.
But in general, plan to do some laundry. If you’re cool with doing it once a week, a list for a warm country might look like this.
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Eight pairs of underwear and socks (extra for emergency)
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Three pairs of different pants or skirts
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Five or six casual shirts
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Two or three nicer shirts, button-downs, or dresses
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A raincoat
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Two or three pairs of shorts
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A swimsuit
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Two/three pairs of shoes (maximum)
That’s already 18 outfit combos with just shirts and bottoms, don’t be fooled by thinking it’s not enough. If you’re heading somewhere cooler, pack a sweater or two and a warm coat. (You can always wear the bulkiest items on the plane.)
Pro tip: Don’t bring clothes you haven’t worn in forever and think you might suddenly love abroad. You won’t. They’ll just take up space.
And don’t stress—if you forget something, you can usually buy it when you arrive. Leave room in your bag for souvenirs, too.
DITCH THE APPLIANCES
We get it—your hairdryer is your holy grail. But appliances take up space and often don’t work well with different voltages. Many a hairdryer has met its end in a European outlet. You can find cheap ones out there or even share with someone who has one.
But definitely bring an adaptor for your tech. It’s tough to charge your laptop with a different-sized plug.
CHECK THE ETIQUETTE
Remember: you’re not on vacation—you’re there to work. Your office might have a dress code.
Startups tend to be more casual (which fits the list above), but check in with your internship supervisor before departure. If you’re unsure, wear something a bit more polished—button-ups, blouses, etc.—on your first day. Then adjust based on the office vibe.
Also, keep in mind that your version of “casual” might not match what’s common in Europe or Australia. Basketball shorts and tank tops might fly on your college campus, but not so much in Paris.
DON’T FORGET YOUR DOCS
We hope you didn’t forget your passport… but we’re saying it anyway:
BRING. YOUR. PASSPORT.
Seriously, your documents are crucial. We’ll cover everything in your pre-departure call, but here’s a quick reminder: print out all essential paperwork, store it in a folder, and keep digital copies on your phone. Immigration officers love a well-organized traveler.
PACK A SMALLER BAG
You’re probably going to take a few weekend trips. Dragging a full-size suitcase around Germany? Not fun. Whether it’s your carry-on bag or another duffel bag you can fold up inside your main luggage, it’s worth having an extra bag.
There are loads of brilliant fold-away daypacks that you can find if you feel like going super-minimalist. But if you pack the rest of your stuff well, there should be more than enough space for a duffel, messenger, or backpack.
DON’T CARRY ON WITH YOUR CARRY-ON
It might be the first long flight you’ve been on, which requires some preparation. If you’re heading to Sydney, you’re looking at at least a full day in the air. Make life easy for yourself.
Bring anything valuable or irreplaceable in your carry-on—wallet, passport, phone, laptop, camera. Worst case, you can buy new clothes. Replacing a laptop? Not so easy.
Also, pack for comfort. A sleeping mask, headphones, earplugs, book, and travel pillow can make the flight bearable.
It’s also worth throwing in a change of clothes. Sometimes, and we stress, only sometimes, bags do go missing. They usually turn up a day or two later, but having a quick change to keep you covered (and less smelly) is a great insurance plan for yourself.
FIGURE OUT YOUR PHONE
You can look into the cost of paying for international data, but it can add up over a full 2 months. Getting your phone unlocked or bringing an unlocked one is a great idea. Typically if your phone is tied to a carrier and doesn’t work with a new sim card unless you unlock the device.
You can also explore eSIM options like Airalo or Holafly. Set it up before departure so your data is ready to go as soon as you land.
We require all of our interns to have a phone for safety purposes, so it’s important to sort this out. Sim cards in other countries can be super cheap and will be a fraction of what you could pay for an international call or data use.
WHAT NOT TO PACK
We’ve told you what should be in your bag, but sometimes it’s just as important to know what should be left at home.
Go easy on the valuables. Some things you’ll need, like your laptop. But jewelry and irreplaceable items should stay in the states.
Don’t bother with toiletries. If you want to take a bottle of shower gel or shampoo for a shower on arrival, go for it. But you can find them in all of our intern cities. Pillows and towels might seem sensible, but you’re covered in this regard. They’re just wasting space in your bag.
Oh, and go easy on the shoes.
Still struggling with packing related questions? Reach out to others in your cohort or your Sage Corps Program Manager for more packing tips for your internship abroad.
