What to Pack when moving from India to Germany? For Students and Professionals

I’ll be discussing what you should pack and what you shouldn’t when preparing for a trip to Germany. This will essentially serve as your packing guide for a foreign destination.

I’ll be organizing these items into categories such as clothing, electronics, cash, and more. This breakdown should make it easier for you to plan your packing when you’re getting ready for your journey. Keep in mind that the items and prices I discuss here might vary for you, so take my advice with a pinch of caution.

Here’s a list from the official Germany customs website about what’s not allowed

Quick Checklist

Passport, Visa, Tickets

Original Educational Degrees and Certificates

Photographs – The size is 35x45mm. Ensure they are in color and that your head occupies 70-80% of the frame. It’s important to note that the size differs from what we commonly use in India.

Translated Documents in German like Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificate (in some cases) Online services for English or Hindi to German translation are available in India.

Any relevant documents required for university administrative purposes

Clothing – Winter clothing can be bought in Germany as they are cheaper and much better quality.

Luggage Limits – There are luggage limits of 23 Kilograms.

Grocery – One of the most popular Grocery chains is Rewe. Carrying spices from India works out way cheaper than buying them in Germany.

Medicines

Cash and Forex Cards

Important Pre-downloaded Mobile Applications I recommend downloading offline maps using Maps.me, the DB App for booking train tickets online in Germany, and the regional train application corresponding to your location in Germany. There are popular Taxi apps such as Free Now & Taxi.Eu

Indian ID proofs like Driving License, Aadhar, PAN Card While I haven’t used Aadhar and PAN for administrative purposes in Germany, there might be situations where they are required, such as Indian bank-related transactions or changes to existing LIC policies, which I had to manage from Germany.

Packing List for Germany

Luggage

There are Luggage Limitations in terms of how much weight can be carried. With Economy Flex, a single passenger can carry 2 bags with a limit of 23 Kgs each. In business class, up to 2 bags of 32 kgs can be carried.

Here’s a break down of the weight limits across different classes. You can check out the complete list here.

Clothing

Let’s start with warm clothing. Germany has some pretty harsh winters, so it’s crucial to have warm attire to keep comfortable throughout the day. However, it’s advisable not to bring all your winter clothing from India or invest in expensive brands. In Germany, you can find a wide range of winter wear, including jackets, hoodies, sweaters, socks, gloves, and more, to suit your needs. If you already own some of these items, you can carry a few, but don’t overload your luggage, as they are readily available in Germany. Your Indian winter clothing might not be suitable for German winters.

Formal and traditional clothing are also essential. Formal attire is necessary for presentations, meetings, and similar occasions. These may not be readily available or cheap in Germany, so it’s wise to bring a couple of formal outfits like shirts, trousers, and ties from India. As for traditional Indian clothing, while festivals in Germany may not match those in India, the Indian community does celebrate major festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, or Durga Puja. If you don’t want to miss out on these celebrations, pack a few traditional outfits. Alongside these, casual clothes for daily wear are also a must, as shopping right after your arrival might be too hectic.

Now, onto shoes. Footwear in Germany is not as diverse as in India, and the available stock may be limited. It’s a good idea to bring your shoes from India for both casual and formal wear. Winter shoes, for snowy weather, need not be packed, as they are easily obtainable in Germany. You can check out this clothing packing list on what to wear in germany.

Electronics

One crucial item in electronics is a universal adapter. Germany uses two-pin electrical sockets, which may not be compatible with your chargers or appliances from India. I recommend carrying at least two or three adapters to ensure you have a backup.

If you need to explain what pin you require, then you can tell the store owner that it’s the Type F with 230V and 50Hz frequency.

When it comes to laptops and smartphones, it’s often better to purchase them in Germany, as you can find excellent deals, mobile plans, and student discounts. However, for mid-range smartphones like Xiaomi, Vivo, or Oppo, buying them in India might be a cost-effective option. On the other hand, flagship smartphones like iPhones or Samsung models are better purchased in Germany. Keep in mind that buying electronics in Germany is advisable for warranty and repair purposes.

Laptops in Germany typically have keyboards with additional umlaut letters, which can be helpful if you’re typing or learning German.

For smartphone accessories and other personal care items, power banks and portable hard drives are usually cheaper in India. Consider purchasing them in India and bringing them along. Hair trimmers, straighteners, and hairdryers are easily available and affordable in Germany, so you need not pack them.

Food and Utensils

Now, let’s talk about food. It’s crucial to carry some ready-to-eat packs, instant noodles, or soup packets for your initial month in Germany when you might not have much time to cook. Basic items like rice can also be brought from India initially, but you’ll find most of your Indian cooking essentials, such as ghee, dry fruits, spices, and masalas, in Indian stores in Germany. You may consider shipping extra food items from India later to avoid overspending on these items in Germany.

Regarding utensils, be prepared to invest in induction-safe cookware, as induction cooktops are more common in German kitchens than gas stoves. A pressure cooker is highly recommended, despite its size, as it’s essential for efficient cooking. A good 2L or 3L cooker is recommended.

There are some food items such as Wild Mushrooms and Potatoes that are banned from being brought into Germany, but most Indians will not bring those.

Medicines

In Germany, obtaining medicines without a prescription is challenging. So, it’s essential to bring basic medications for common issues like cough, cold, nausea, stomachache, and headaches. Ensure you have enough medication to last you for a significant period, ideally a year, considering the expiration date. This precaution will come in handy in case of health emergencies, and you won’t have to rush to find a pharmacy.

Creating a basic first aid kit with essentials like bandages, thermometers, cotton swabs, and more is also a wise move. Before leaving for Germany, consider having a comprehensive medical checkup, including eye and dental exams and blood tests. This way, you can address any health issues while you’re still in India, saving you from additional expenses in Germany. Additionally, if you wear glasses, it’s wise to have a couple of extra pairs before departing for Germany.

Carry essential medicines for common ailments like headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, pain relief, and fever for emergencies. It’s important to note that in Germany, you won’t be able to purchase many medicines from pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription. Pharmacies in Germany are known as Apotheke. Some medicinal items are banned such as Testosterone, just ensure that the medicines you carry are for basic ailments. One word of advice, when it comes to Ayurvedic medicines, some might be classified as plants and aren’t allowed to be brought into Germany. In this situation, it’s best to use a logisitics company like ShipzyCart, to help you ship these items from India for cheap.

Rossman is a very popular medicine chain in Germany.

Toiletries

Shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, and similar items are readily available in Germany, so no need to worry about packing these. In Germany, people often use shower gels instead of soap, and you’ll find a wide variety with various fragrances in supermarkets.

If a dermatologist or another doctor has prescribed specific skincare products or oils, ensure you carry an ample supply from India to avoid any issues later.

Cash, Sim Cards & Others

Now, for a few essential miscellaneous items. Make sure to carry all your original documents, including birth certificates, mark sheets, and everything in between. Also, have multiple photocopies of each document to submit to local authorities or your university when needed. Photocopies are easy to obtain in India.

Consider carrying Indian pens if you have favorites that you can’t find anywhere else. While pens and books are easily available in Germany, there’s something special about Indian pens.

When it comes to SIM cards, you can use your Indian SIM card initially, but ensure it has some credit for emergencies, as your Indian debit cards might not work in Germany.

Regarding cash and cards, it’s essential to have 700 to 1000 Euros in cash when you arrive in Germany. Most payments in Germany are made in cash, and Indian debit cards may not be accepted. Ensure your credit cards are from Visa, Mastercard, or American Express, as providers like Rupay are not widely accepted. Most Indians won’t carry so much money, but you need to declare, if you carry more than 10,000 Euros.

“Anybody entering Germany from a third country (non-EU Member State) carrying cash (cash money and securities) with a total value of 10,000 euros or more must declare this amount of money to the competent German customs office in writing. You must inform the customs official orally when asked whether you are bringing other means of payment deemed equivalent to cash if their total amount is 10,000 euros or more.“

Germany Customs

Lastly, when packing for Germany, focus on carrying the essentials and avoid overloading your luggage. Most basic necessities are readily available in Germany, as discussed in the points above.

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