When our son prepared to study abroad, technology caused more confusion than packing.
Would his phone work abroad? Did he need an international plan or an eSIM? Which plug adapter should he bring? What would happen if his phone was lost or stopped working?
Most of these questions are much easier to solve before departure than after landing in another country.
Decide How the Phone Will Work Abroad
Start with the student’s current carrier.
Ask:
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Whether the current plan includes international service
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What calls, texts, and data will cost
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Whether an international day pass or monthly plan is available
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Which countries are included
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Whether Wi-Fi calling will work
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How voicemail will be accessed
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Which settings control international roaming
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Whether the phone is unlocked
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How the student can contact the carrier from outside the United States
Coverage and pricing vary by carrier, destination, and length of stay. A plan that makes sense for a short vacation may be expensive or impractical for an entire semester.
Your student should also understand which actions may create additional charges. Receiving a call, checking voicemail, using cellular data, or crossing into another country may be treated differently depending on the plan.
Compare Carrier Plans, Local SIMs, and eSIMs
Many students use an international eSIM or local mobile plan instead of relying entirely on their U.S. carrier.
An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows a compatible phone to use another cellular plan without inserting a physical SIM card. Some phones can keep the student’s regular number active while using a second plan for data, but the exact setup depends on the phone, carrier, and eSIM provider.
Before choosing a plan, check:
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Whether the phone supports eSIM
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Whether the phone is unlocked
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Coverage in the primary destination
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Coverage in countries the student may visit
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The amount and length of data included
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Whether the plan includes calls and texts or data only
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Whether the student receives a local phone number
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How the plan is activated
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Whether activation requires an internet connection
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What happens when the data or coverage period ends
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Whether the plan can be extended or reloaded
Apple recommends reviewing the existing carrier’s international options and confirming that an iPhone is unlocked before using another carrier’s eSIM. On an iPhone, “No SIM restrictions” under the Carrier Lock setting indicates that the phone is unlocked. Apple provides current international eSIM guidance here.
Install the eSIM and save the setup instructions before departure when possible. Do not keep the only copy of the activation information on the phone that needs to use it.
Before leaving, the student should understand which line will handle calls, messages, and cellular data. A setting that accidentally sends data through the U.S. plan can result in unexpected charges.
Make Sure Service Works Upon Arrival
Students often need their phones shortly after landing to contact the program, find transportation, access directions, or reach their housing.
Know the plan for that first connection.
Will the international plan begin automatically? Does the eSIM need to be turned on after landing? Will the student temporarily use airport Wi-Fi? Is there a local SIM card pickup arranged through the program?
Save the following for offline access:
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Arrival instructions
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Housing address
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Transportation details
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Program contact information
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eSIM activation instructions
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Carrier support information
The student should also carry the housing address and an essential contact number on paper. A phone is useful until the battery dies, the screen breaks, or the service does not connect.
Choose How Your Family Will Communicate
Choose the primary calling and messaging apps before the student leaves.
Depending on the devices and countries involved, your family might use:
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FaceTime
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WhatsApp
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Signal
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Another calling or messaging service everyone already knows how to use
Create accounts, confirm phone numbers, and test a call before departure.
Discuss what will happen if the student changes phone numbers or uses a data-only plan. Make sure parents, program contacts, and trusted friends know which method will be most reliable.
This is also a good time to agree on reasonable communication expectations. Technology makes constant contact possible, but that does not mean students need to report every movement or answer immediately.
Check Multifactor Authentication
Multifactor authentication helps protect important accounts, but it can also create a problem if every verification code is sent to a U.S. phone number that does not work abroad.
Before departure, test access to:
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College email
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Personal email
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Banking and credit card accounts
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Airline and transportation accounts
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Study abroad portals
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Cloud storage
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Password manager
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Social media
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Health or travel insurance accounts
Whenever possible, use an authenticator app, passkey, or another secure method that does not rely solely on receiving a text message.
Store backup codes securely and make sure the student knows how to find them. Add a recovery email, trusted contact, or second approved method where available.
Do not store the only password, backup code, or recovery instructions on the phone itself.
Protect the Phone and Important Accounts
Complete a basic security check before departure:
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Install current phone and app updates
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Use a strong phone passcode
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Turn on Face ID, fingerprint access, or another biometric option
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Enable device tracking
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Use unique passwords for important accounts
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Turn on multifactor authentication
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Review account-recovery information
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Store backup codes securely
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Remove apps and information the student does not need
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Back up the phone
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Review what appears in lock-screen notifications
A password manager can make this much easier if the student already uses one. The student should know the master password and understand how to access the account without a parent.
For sensitive accounts, stronger security should not depend on one device working perfectly. The goal is to make the phone difficult for someone else to access while still giving the student a recovery path if it is lost.
Use Public Wi-Fi Carefully
Airport, hotel, café, campus, and train Wi-Fi can be convenient, but students should confirm that they are joining the correct network.
Avoid unfamiliar networks with vague or nearly identical names. Turn off automatic connection to open networks, keep the phone and browser updated, and be cautious about unexpected login pages or requests to install software.
For banking, payment information, private documents, or other sensitive activity, cellular data or another trusted connection may be the better choice.
Students should also watch for phishing messages that claim an account, reservation, package, payment, or password requires immediate action. Urgency is often used to encourage people to click before checking whether a message is legitimate.
CISA recommends using strong passwords, current software, multifactor authentication, and caution with suspicious links as basic account protections. Review CISA’s current cybersecurity guidance.
Download Important Apps and Information
Install and sign in to essential apps while the student still has a familiar internet connection.
Useful apps may include:
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Airline and airport apps
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Train and local transportation apps
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Map and translation tools
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Messaging apps
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Banking and credit card apps
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Study abroad program apps
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Authenticator app
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Travel insurance app
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Digital wallet
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Cloud storage or password manager
Download offline maps for the primary destination and planned travel areas. Google Maps allows users to save selected areas for use when internet service is slow or unavailable, although some features, including walking and public-transit directions, may not work offline. Google explains the current offline-map limitations here.
Also download or take screenshots of:
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Boarding passes
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Train or bus tickets
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Housing information
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Arrival instructions
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Program contacts
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Insurance details
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Reservations
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Important addresses
Make sure the student knows where the downloaded information is stored and can open it without an internet connection.
Bring the Correct Plug Adapter
A plug adapter and a voltage converter are not the same thing.
A plug adapter changes the shape of a plug so it fits the outlet. A voltage converter changes the electrical voltage.
Before buying either one, check:
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The outlet type used in the destination
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The voltage used there
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The voltage range printed on every device or charger
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Whether the student will visit countries with different outlet types
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Whether the adapter is grounded, if required by the device
Many phone, tablet, and laptop chargers accept a voltage range such as 100–240 volts and may need only a plug adapter. Hair dryers, curling irons, straighteners, and other small appliances require closer attention.
Do not assume a device is dual voltage. Read the label on the device or charging block.
In many cases, it is easier to leave incompatible hair tools or appliances at home and purchase an appropriate version after arrival.
Pack a Simple Charging Setup
Students do not need a suitcase full of charging equipment, but one backup cable can prevent a lot of frustration.
Consider packing:
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The correct plug adapter
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Phone charging cable
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One extra cable
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Charging block
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Portable power bank
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Laptop charger
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Cables for a watch, tablet, headphones, or other essential devices
Keep the portable charger and at least one phone cable in the student’s personal item while traveling.
Power banks contain lithium batteries and must be carried in carry-on baggage rather than checked luggage under current TSA rules. Airlines may impose additional battery limits, particularly for larger power banks, so check the airline’s current requirements before departure. See the TSA power-bank guidance.
Label charging equipment when students will be living or traveling with others. Small black charging blocks and cables have a way of looking exactly alike.
Create a Lost-Phone Plan
Talk through the steps before there is a problem.
The student should know how to:
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Locate the phone from another device
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Mark it as lost
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Lock or erase it remotely
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Contact the carrier
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Suspend the cellular plan
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Lock cards stored in the mobile wallet
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Change important passwords if necessary
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Access email from another device
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reach the study abroad program
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Contact family without using their own phone
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Restore service on a replacement device
Store the phone’s serial number, carrier contact information, and basic account details somewhere secure and accessible from another device.
The student should also know which friend, roommate, program contact, or housing office they could approach if they needed immediate help without a working phone.
Avoid trying to retrieve a stolen phone personally, even if its location appears through a tracking service. Contact local authorities or the study abroad program for guidance.
Keep Secure Copies Outside the Phone
The phone should not be the only place important information is stored.
Keep secure copies of:
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Passport and visa
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Insurance information
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Flight and train details
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Housing address
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Program contacts
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Prescription information
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Emergency numbers
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Bank and card contact numbers
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Phone-service instructions
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Relevant account-recovery information
Your student should be able to reach these records from another device if the phone is lost, damaged, or unavailable.
This system can build on the important documents your college student should have access to before leaving home. Sensitive records should be stored in a protected system, not left permanently in a camera roll, regular email inbox, or widely shared family folder.
Complete a Final Technology Check
Before departure, ask the student to show you:
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How the phone will connect after landing
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Which plan will provide cellular data
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How to prevent unintended roaming charges
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Which app the family will use to communicate
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How to access important accounts without text-message verification
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Where backup codes are stored
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How to find or lock a lost phone
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Where offline maps and arrival information are saved
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Which adapter each device requires
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Where the portable charger is packed
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How to reach essential information from another device
If the student cannot find or explain something without asking a parent to do it for them, the setup is not finished.
Technology cannot prevent every travel problem. A thoughtful setup can keep a dead battery, missing phone, failed login, or unfamiliar cellular plan from becoming a much larger one.
Phone service, eSIM compatibility, airline battery rules, account-security features, and destination requirements vary and can change. Confirm current information with the carrier, device manufacturer, airline, study abroad program, and service provider before departure.