GoAbroad's Pre-Departure Checklist for Your Upcoming Gap Year Abroad

Does your brain feel like scrambled eggs whenever you think about your upcoming gap year? Have you chewed your nails down to their nubs from anxiety over all the things to do before you gap year abroad? Ouch!

It’s ok to have some stress! Don’t worry, this checklist is sure to help.

Welp, if it makes you feel any better, your feelings are totally normal. Plenty of soon-to-be gappers feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things to do to before your gap year abroad. After all, heading overseas is a pretty big deal! You’ll need to plan for everything from packing your sturdy-chic sandals to getting your passport renewed (if it’s expired). And, all these things have to happen in time for your flight out. Sure, gap years are fantabulous! But they definitely require some serious preparation on your end. 

Now, don’t get all panicky on us. Getting ready for your gap year will take some elbow grease. But, it’s nothing a good ole pre-departure checklist can’t handle. And we’ve got everything you’ll need to put on your list detailed below. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to have a stress-free journey to departure day. Read on for the gap year pre-departure checklist of your dreams!

Why it’s important to have a game-plan before you leave for your gap year

Think about it. How would you like to spend your flight to your gap year locale? Stressing over the gazillion things you’ll need to take care of after you land? Or, zenning out with your journal while listening to some in-flight music? We recommend sticking with an organized and well thought out approach. Why? Because a good chunk of an epic gap year depends on how well you prepare before you leave home. 

See, last minute planning and gap year travels are like hair dryers and water—they just don’t mix. So stuff like visas, shots, and saving money for extra overseas jaunts? Don’t even think about trying to get them done overnight. It’s ain’t happenin! Things to do before your gap year abroad, like renewing or applying for a new passport can take weeks or more. And that’s if they don’t get lost in the mail. Maybe you’re thinking of squeezing in a weekend exploring the jungles of Ubud, Bali. Why not give yourself enough time to plan a gnarly jam-packed itinerary? If you’ll be gapping in Japan, guess what? Some of the most popular sushi restaurants require booking months ahead. Or, how depressing would it be to get turned away at the airport because you forgot to get your yellow fever vax? Lame.

Don’t wait until the last minute to pack and prepare all your belongings!

Whether with your favorite app or a good ‘ole pen and pad, you won’t regret taking an organized and timely approach toward preparing for your trip. Plus, when time is on your side, fleshing out all the little details of things to do before your gap year abroad is super invigorating. 

The important things to do before gap year abroad programs

Organize Your Travel Documents

Are you amping up for a few months living in the bush? Or, will you be globetrotting between a couple different countries? No matter what kind of gap year you’ve got coming up, you’ll need certain documents to make it happen. These can range from immigration paperwork and health insurance to your I.D. and flight manifesto. And remember, they’ll probably take a few weeks (or even months) to get processed. The best gap year programs tell their gappers exactly what documents they’ll need and how to get them. While if you’re traveling solo, Google, along with travel and embassy websites will be bae.

• Passport & visa. Your passport and visa are two of the most important pieces to your gap year. You can’t fly out of most countries without a passport or get into many others without a visa. Passports can be applied for at post offices or even online, while visas can involve mailing paperwork to another country’s immigration office. Don’t leave getting these to the last minute! They should be at the very top of your gap year pre-departure checklist.
• Ensure you’ve got up to date immunizations. Coming down with hepatitis or typhoid would be a supreme buzzkill. Plus, some countries don’t even allow you to pass through their airports without certain shots. Visit a travel health doctor at home to find out what immunizations you’ll need for traveling. Gap year program staff can also give you the deets.
• Buy travel insurance. In the rare event that your luggage disappears or that you bang your head really hard on the overhead bin and need a stitch, travel insurance is a lifesaver. Most programs require gappers to purchase insurance to cover travel or health emergencies abroad. And if you’re gapping on your own, this is not an expense to skip out on.
• Book plane tickets. Ever heard the saying, “the early bird gets the worm?” Corny? Kinda. But very accurate. Try to book your plane tickets as early as you can for the best deals. The sooner you start looking, the more you’ll like find.

Arrange Your Finances

Unless you’ve got a sweet benefactor (Grandma?) your gap year is gonna cost ya. Expenses can include program fees, airfare, in-country accommodation, rides, travel insurance, and eats. So naturally, you want to know how much money your gap year will cost. Break it all down item by item by drafting a good gap year budget. List everything from visa application and tour fees to emergency cash. If you’re planning to bring some souvenirs back for your parentals, add those in there too.

Once you’re clear on the cost of your gap year, it’s time to strategize how to pay for it. You can start saving by picking up an extra job, applying to scholarships, or by crowdfunding. Digging around for affordable gap year programs is another route. Yet another reason why planning your gap year ahead of time is crucial. These things take time!

• Outline your travel budget. Once you decide to do a gap year, this should be one of your first steps. You can find tons of great (and free) sample travel budget templates all over the web to help you organize your finances. 
• Fundraise for your trip. Crowdfunding is a popular way for gappers to raise travel funds. So don’t be shy about asking mentors or relatives to donate and support your gap year. Find your sweet spot between bragging and showcasing your upcoming meaningful travel and go for it! Our FundMyTravel toolkit can help you get started.
• Get a travel rewards credit card and a bank card with no ATM fees. This is one of our best pre-departure tips for your gap year abroad. Those pesky ATM fees can quickly add up, especially when you’re abroad, so look into getting a card with low or no ATM fees. And make sure you alert your bank before you travel, so that your card doesn’t get flagged when you try to use it abroad! A travel rewards credit card is another good way of saving cash overseas plus they’ve got other perks like earning points toward even more travel. #yasss
• Save extra money. Babysitting, lawn mowing, cleaning up golf balls at the course…if your gap year travel budget is looking tight, don’t underestimate the power of a saving through a part-time job. Open a savings account and set a deadline of meeting your goal. Nothing beats the feeling of meeting a financial goal! 

Bring the Right Stuff

Ready to stuff your life into two luggage? You heard right. Most popular airlines allow you to check two 50-pound pieces. But don’t worry, it’s totally doable. You’ll just have to be smart about what you choose to pack. Start with a mix of things you need (underwear...or not?) and a few sentimental items for downtime (Kindle, journal, camera?). 

As you start packing, ask yourself: What kind of activities am I planning to do? What’s the climate like? Will I need an adapter to use my gadgets? If you find yourself running out of space, research luggage space saving techniques like packing cubes and convertible clothing. And don’t forget to reach out to former gappers for pre-departure tips for your gap year abroad too. These folks are the insider advice gawds for all things to do before your gap year abroad.

• A journal. Not only is journaling uber cathartic, it’s the stuff future best selling travel memoirs are made of! 
• Clothes suitable for varied climates. Find out what the weather will be like where you’re heading and how the seasons could change while you’re there and pack accordingly. 
• Sturdy adventure shoes. You should also pack for the types of activities you’ll be doing (eg hiking boots for climbing the Andes). Depending on where you’re heading, a good pair of walking sandals could be a must. There’s literally nothing worse than a broken thong flip flop out in public!
• A pocket language and cultural guide book. What’s the one thing all meaningful travelers do abroad? They immerse themselves into the local culture! Seriously, this is one of the best pre-departure tips for your gap year abroad. Not only does it show your interest in learning about your new neighbors, cultural immersion makes it easier for you to get the most basic things done, which means less stress on your end...yay!

Miscellaneous To Do’s Before a Gap Year

So yea, you should definitely pack along some mementos from home. That could be family pics or gifts to give new friends. Or, if you’re teaching during your gap year, you might want to bring along a few board games. 

Now, don’t forget about one of the most important parts of your gap year...you! Is there anything special you want to do before you leave for yourself? You could throw yourself a going away party or have a sleepover with your BFF. And if your iPad is low on space, it’s probably a good idea to back it up and clear up some storage. Don’t feel funny about adding random things like these to your pre-departure checklist too. 

• Photos. Why not print out a few pics to hang around your new digs abroad? It will give a nice touch and make it feel a little more like home. 
• Gifts for future friends. Doing a homestay and worried about how you’ll be welcomed? Bringing a small gift for your new housemates always adds a nice touch! 
• Saying your goodbyes. With all the focus on departure day, don’t forget to say a proper goodbye to your homies! You should pencil in some time to celebrate your plans with your closest friends. It’s one best things to do before your gap year abroad. Why? Because energy is everything and a cozy shindig will send you off in the right headspace. 
• Putting things in storage. Who’s gonna watch your car and dog while you’re abroad? Where are you planning to store all the books from your dorm? If there’s anything you need to stow away, make a plan for where it can go.

You’re ready to leave for your gap year!

Time to get excited! Your upcoming gap year abroad starts now!

By now, those icky pre-departure butterflies have hopefully flown away. As your gap year approaches, you can tackle that gap year pre-departure checklist and start your travels feeling relaxed and truly embracing the upcoming experience. And as you learn more about your gap year destination, it’s okay for your to-do list to do a little shapeshifting. For example, you may find out that you can get Apple chargers easily in-county and decide to travel with two instead of four. Or, your spending budget might get chopped down, so you’ll opt to book a two day excursion instead of a week long one.

Also, initially, you may not have all the “hows” of your gap year figured out. You might only have a country picked out and a gap year program acceptance letter. Hey, sometimes the first step is the dream comes before the game plan. But whether it’s how to pay or pack for your gap year, giving yourself ample time to strategize sets you up for some gap year planning magic. The sooner you start ticking items off your gap year pre-departure checklist, the closer you are to reaping all the awesome rewards waiting for you during your gap year.

Get a Downloadable Version of Our Gap Year Abroad Pre-Departure Checklist