Short answer: your first week should prioritize safe arrival, university registration, verified accommodation and the official student-residence process. Banking, shopping and sightseeing come after your legal and academic steps are clear.
Before the flight
Keep these in hand luggage:
- passport and travel itinerary;
- university offer and payment confirmation;
- accommodation and airport-pickup details;
- original academic documents requested for registration;
- English-test evidence;
- essential medication and supporting documents;
- university emergency contacts.
Store encrypted digital copies separately. Do not give your passport to an informal driver, landlord or representative.
Arrival day
Follow the immigration instructions for your passport and present truthful information about your study and accommodation. Keep evidence of entry safely. Entry permission is not the same as a completed student residence permit.
Use the university’s confirmed pickup or an official transport option. Before boarding a private vehicle, verify the driver and price. Message a trusted contact when you leave the airport.
At accommodation, record the room condition, inventory and meter readings. Obtain a receipt for any balance or deposit.
Day one and two: university registration
Go to the official registration point. Confirm that the university has credited your payment to the correct student account. Submit original documents only to the authorized office and keep receipts or a document handover record.
Ask for:
- student number and portal access;
- proof of active enrollment;
- faculty and adviser contact;
- English examination or exemption status;
- class and orientation timetable;
- residence-permit instructions;
- official IT and emergency support.
Change any temporary password and enable available account security. Be cautious with links sent in unofficial groups.
English assessment and course registration
Admission does not always mean direct entry to departmental courses. Attend the English placement or proficiency examination if required. Missing it can delay registration or place you in a different process.
Meet your adviser and confirm the course load, rooms and add/drop dates. Save the academic calendar.
SIM and communication
Compare current offers at official mobile-operator shops. Bring the identification required for lawful registration and ask for the full price, duration, renewal and data allowance. Avoid buying a pre-registered SIM from an unknown person.
Update your family and university with the number, but do not use public groups to share passport images or one-time security codes.
Student residence permission
The Ministry of Interior states that foreigners staying beyond their visa, visa exemption or ninety days need residence permission, and higher-education students in associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral study need student residence permission.
Follow the current university and Ministry workflow after registration. Requirements and payments can change, so do not copy an old student’s screenshots. Complete the steps within the stated period, save your application evidence and ask the university’s international office if the portal status is unclear.
The official visa and residence brochure should be read alongside any university checklist. Only the competent authority decides your status.
Money and banking
Do not rush to open an account through an intermediary. Ask banks directly for current non-citizen requirements, charges, currencies and online-banking terms. Never let another person control your card, PIN or phone.
Keep emergency funds in more than one secure method. Confirm the university’s official beneficiary before any additional tuition payment.
Health and daily setup
Learn the location of the campus clinic, nearest hospital, pharmacy and emergency service. Keep insurance and medication information accessible. Buy essentials gradually rather than paying a stranger for a large “arrival package.”
Walk or ride your commute before the first early class. Locate a supermarket, safe cash point and university security desk.
End-of-week check
By the end of week one, you should be able to answer:
- Am I fully registered and in the correct program?
- Is my English and course status clear?
- Have I started the current residence process?
- Is my housing documented?
- Do I know official contacts for academic, immigration and emergencies?
- Does my remaining budget still match the plan?
Read our flight guide before travel and budget planner after settling.
Ask us if an arrival instruction conflicts with an official source. We can help interpret the steps, but the university and Ministry provide the binding requirements.