The Ultimate Packing List for a Year in Ireland

Prepare for studying abroad - your simple guide to packing right

Your first week in Ireland will be a whirlwind of new classmates, bus routes and routines. This guide keeps you calm and organised. Inside: documents and money, what HSI provides for uniform, the clothing that suits Irish weather, toiletries and meds, tech and power you’ll actually use, a thoughtful host-family gift idea, and quick airport and customs checks. Scroll, tick, and you’re ready.

First things first: travel essentials

Keep these in your hand luggage, with paper copies together and digital copies in a shared family folder.

• Passport — valid for your full stay

• School acceptance letter — plus HSI contact details

• Travel and medical insurance — policy and emergency numbers

• Prescription medicines — original packaging; bring a doctor’s letter for anything controlled

• Money for arrival — a supervised teen debit or prepaid card works well, plus a little cash in euros (for example, Revolut – Kids & Teens)

• Host family and school addresses — printed and saved on your phone

  
  

Airport liquids rule: liquids must be in containers up to 100 ml, inside one clear 1-litre bag. Medical and dietary exemptions apply; check the latest on the Dublin Airport carry-on page.

Uniform - what HSI provides and what you bring

Most Irish secondary schools use a uniform. HSI includes the school-branded essentials your school requires.

• Provided by HSI: school blazer, jumper and tie where required

• Bring from home: two or three white shirts, black or brown school shoes already broken in, black or grey smart trousers or skirt, neutral socks or tights, a plain dark belt

• Sports kit: varies by school and may be extra - check with HSI before you pack

• Why basics work: schools are encouraged to keep uniform costs down and use generic items where sensible - see the Department of Education’s circular on reducing uniform costs

  
  

Everyday clothing that suits Irish weather

Ireland is generally mild and changeable with frequent showers, so layers beat bulky coats (see Met Éireann’s climate overview for context).

• Waterproof jacket with hood — a breathable shell you’ll actually wear

• Light mid-layer — fleece or thin down for cool mornings

• Jumpers — two or three for class and weekends

• Jeans or trousers — two or three you’re happy living in

• Tops and tees — five to seven for easy rotation

• Underwear and socks — enough for ten to twelve days

• Shoes — waterproof trainers or leather shoes for daily use, plus a spare that dries quickly

• Cold-weather extras — hat, scarf and gloves from late autumn

  
  

Toiletries and health

• Week-one toiletries — buy refills locally

• Skincare and haircare you trust

• Basic first aid — plasters and simple pain relief

• Spare glasses or contacts if you need them

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Security tip: follow the Dublin Airport liquids guidance; exemptions apply for essential medication.

Tech and power

• Unlocked smartphone — keep your home plan if it includes EU data, or pick up an Irish SIM on arrival with help from your HSI student advisor

• Laptop or tablet — with a protective sleeve for school

• Type G power adapter — Ireland uses Type G plugs; a compact adapter is plenty (see IEC’s World Plugs)

• Portable battery pack — flight-safe capacity

• Chargers and cables — pack a spare lead

• Earbuds or headphones — handy for study and travel

  
  

Flight-day carry-on

• Passport, insurance and school letter

• Phone, adapter, chargers and headphones

• Printed host family and school addresses

• Reusable water bottle, empty for security

• Two easy snacks

• Warm layer for arrival

• Small host-family gift — something from home that’s non-perishable; for food gifts, check the FSAI guide to personal food imports

  
  

Customs and security: quick check before you pack

If you’re unsure about bringing food or high-value goods, use the official guidance before you fly. For security, stick to the 100 ml liquids in one 1-litre bag and follow on-the-day instructions at screening (Dublin Airport security FAQs). For allowances and rules, see Revenue’s overview of customs information and duty-free allowances.

Your packing list for high school study abroad Ireland

Copy this checklist into your notes app and tick each box as you go.

Essentials

☐ Passport

☐ School acceptance letter and HSI contact details

☐ Travel and medical insurance (policy + emergency numbers)

☐ Prescription medicines in original packaging

☐ Doctor’s letter for any controlled medication

☐ Supervised teen debit or prepaid card, plus a little cash in euros

☐ Host family address and school contact saved on phone

☐ Liquids up to 100 ml in one clear 1-litre bag

Uniform

☐ Two or three white shirts (or other colour confirmed by HSI)

☐ Two pairs of black or grey trousers, or skirt for girls (colour to be confirmed by HSI)

☐ Black school shoes, broken in

☐ Neutral socks or tights

☐ Plain dark belt

☐ Sports kit confirmed with HSI for your school and preferences

Clothing

☐ Waterproof jacket with hood

☐ Light mid-layer (fleece or thin down)

☐ Two or three jumpers

☐ Two or three jeans or trousers

☐ Five to seven tops or tees

☐ Underwear and socks for ten to twelve days

☐ Daily waterproof shoes + spare pair

☐ Hat, scarf and gloves for winter

Toiletries and health

☐ Week-one toiletries

☐ Skincare and haircare you trust

☐ Basic first aid (plasters, simple pain relief)

☐ Spare glasses or contacts

Tech and power

☐ Unlocked smartphone (EU data plan or Irish SIM via HSI advisor)

☐ Laptop or tablet with sleeve

☐ Type G plug adapter

☐ Portable battery pack

☐ Chargers and spare cable

☐ Earbuds or headphones

Carry-on for flight day

☐ Documents folder in hand luggage

☐ Phone, adapter and chargers

☐ Printed addresses

☐ Empty reusable water bottle

☐ Two snacks

☐ Warm layer

☐ Small host-family gift

Summary

• Carry-on = irreplaceables. Anything you can’t quickly replace - passport, insurance details, prescriptions - lives in your hand luggage.

• Uniform, simplified. HSI sorts the branded bits; you bring comfy basics. If sport’s on your mind, just ask the HSI team what your school uses.

• Dress like the locals. Layers over bulk. A waterproof you’ll actually wear beats a giant coat you won’t.

• Start small with toiletries. Pack enough for week one, then top up in Ireland once you know what you’ll use.

• Phone sorted, stress sorted. Unlocked handset, charger packed. Keep your home EU data or grab a local SIM with HSI’s help.

• Fly smart. Prep for the first 24 hours - chargers, warm layer, snacks - and tuck in a small gift from home for your host family.

• Final glance before zipping. Liquids rule in mind, addresses saved and printed, and you’re good to go!