Germany Packing List for Indians: What to Bring and What Not to Pack

This is my updated Germany packing list for Indians, especially Indian students, job seekers and expats moving from India to Germany on a long-term visa. The goal is simple: bring what is hard, expensive or urgent in your first weeks, and avoid overpacking things you can easily buy in Germany.

I have refreshed this guide for 2026 because airline baggage rules, Vistara/Air India information, medicine guidance and shopping options have changed since the older version of this post.

Germany packing list for Indians in 2026: quick checklist

• Must carry: passport, visa/residence documents, university/job documents, blocked-account/insurance proof if relevant, accommodation details, prescriptions, cards and some cash.
• Useful from India: basic medicines with prescriptions, pressure cooker, initial spices, adapters, important Indian IDs, and a few comfort-food items for the first week.
• Do not overpack: winter jackets, blankets, toiletries, cosmetics, utensils, food packets and electronics you can buy easily in Germany.
• Before flying: check your airline’s current baggage allowance, German customs rules, liquid restrictions, power-bank rules and medicine limits.

Useful current references: Air India/Vistara merger information, German Health Ministry guidance on bringing medicines, and airport baggage guidance on liquids and power banks.

I have already made a video on my YouTube channel: Packing List for Indians coming from India to Germany. In case you don’t want to read this blog post and watch the video instead.

Quick introduction about me, I am Eri and I live and work in Germany, I moved here in 2019 and started blogging in 2021. I like to make content around Life in Germany and share my Europe Travel Stories.

1.0 Most Important : Documents to Bring

1.1 Passport, Visa, Tickets

1.2 Original Educational Degrees and Certificates

1.3 Photographs

Please carry extra coloured photographs size: 35x45mm. It should not be black and white and your head should take 70-80%. I used the same photo size to renew my Indian passport in Frankfurt. The size differ from what we use in India.

1.4 Translated Documents in German like Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificate (in some cases)

Online Service for English or Hindi Translation to German language in India: https://3ade.in/

1.5 Any relevant document you need for University Admin Purpose

1.6 Cash & Forex Cards

1.7 Important pre-downloaded mobile applications

This is recommended to download Offline Map at Maps.me, DB App for booking train tickets online in Germany and regional train application. For example- I live in Frankfurt and we use RMV.

1.8 Indian ID proofs like Driving Licence, Adhaar, PAN card

I never used Adhaar, PAN here in Germany for admin purposes, but when I had some work in India and had to get it done from Germany then they do ask for PAN, Adhaar. For example, Indian Bank related work, changing existing LIC policy, etc.

2.0 Things to Bring : Germany Travel Packing List

2.1 Medicines

Please carry common medicines for headache, fever, loose motions, vomiting or period pain for emergency situations, but keep them in original packaging and carry prescriptions for regular medicines. Germany’s Health Ministry says medicines carried when entering Germany are generally limited to usual personal need, normally up to three months based on dosage. You may not be able to buy all Indian medicines from an Apotheke in Germany without a doctor’s prescription.

Chemist shops in Germany are called Apotheke.

2.2 Electronics

• Travel Universal Adapter: https://amzn.to/35dZrOlhttps://amzn.to/3tViaZf
• Extension Cord: https://amzn.to/3AqpgX7
• External Hard Disk: https://amzn.to/3FXTceb
• Mobile Phone: https://amzn.to/3rIF6sd
• Laptop:https://amzn.to/358ybRh

For electronics, compare current prices in India and Germany before buying. Carry only what you genuinely need in the first few days. Power banks usually belong in cabin baggage, not checked baggage, and liquids in cabin baggage must follow the 100 ml container / 1 litre bag rule.

2.3 Indian Food Items

My suggestion is to bring a small starter set of Indian spices and a few ready-to-eat items for your first days. Do not fill half your luggage with food because many Indian groceries are now available online and offline in Germany. Always follow customs and airline rules for food items.

Grocery Store in Germany: Rewe, Penny, Aldi, Lidl

2.4 Utensils

Pressure Cooker is very expensive in Germany, please buy 2L or 3L cooking as per your need. I don’t think you would need anything else from India, the rest of the things are available here in Indian Shops, Online Grocery Stores and Asian Stores.

• Chai Channi: https://amzn.to/3KHxPRQ
• Masaldani: https://amzn.to/3qVGEzG
• Roti Grill/ Chapati Grill: https://amzn.to/3qSMqCd

• Cooker (Steel Cooker): https://amzn.to/38JlxI2https://amzn.to/3GZEPaI

You can buy pans and cooking pots with lids easily in German Stores like Woolworth, Tedi, Aldi, and Lidl. You can buy a pan instead of buying a Kadhai from India.

2.5 Food Items for the initial days

I would suggest to carry some ready to eat meals with you to avoid any chaos related to food hunting while you are adjusting in Germany. Avoid carrying too much, just for a week or so would be fine.

• Basic Masala for cooking like Red Chilly Powder, Haldi Powder, Dhania Powder, Garam Masala, you can get salt and sugar easily here at an affordable price from the German Supermarket.
• Maggi
• Top Ramen
• Cup Noodles
• Ready to Breakfast like Poha, Upma
• Ready to Eat Meals like gravy, gravy rice combo, biryani rice, masala rice

2.6 Cosmetics & Toiletries

For the initial days only please carry a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, face wash, cream, small shampoo, small sunscreen, and comb. I find that you can easily buy affordable cosmetics and toiletries in Germany from Rewe and DM.

• Transparent Pouch for Cosmetics: https://amzn.to/39uRPp5https://amzn.to/3rMmMyf
• Vacuum Packets: https://amzn.to/3oKrk5phttps://amzn.to/3AtWGnx

Famous Drugstores of Germany:

• Rossmann:https://www.rossmann.de/de/
• DM: https://www.dm.de/

2.7 Luggage Bags

• Portable Luggage Weighing Scale: https://amzn.to/3ID4dUb
• Passport Holder: https://amzn.to/3KF06Zv
• Accessories organiser: https://amzn.to/3GYeQR5
• Luggage Tag: https://amzn.to/3GZJV6Q
• Luggage Trolley Locks: https://amzn.to/358xTtF

3.0 Things not to bring: packing list for Germany

3.1 Comparing Prices from India to Germany and avoiding overpacking

When we move from one place to another, we just overpack. This time you should think smartly and utilise the price comparison method to cut short things in your list.

Use German Websites to find the alternative option of not carrying these things from India and buying them here. These are generally those things which you will not need in the first day or two after arriving in Germany.

Please do not buy excessive cosmetics and toiletries because they are available here at affordable costs in German Drugstores like Rossmann and DM.

• Amazon.de
• Mediamarkt (For Electronics)
• Otto (Electronics)
• Rossmann (Cosmetics and Hygiene)
• DM (Cosmetics and Hygiene)

3.2 Dont buy excessive cosmetics and toiletries

FAQs: moving to Germany from India