Moving Into a Hostel: Packing List & First-Week Checklist

Moving into a hostel goes smoothly when you pack for the three things first-timers forget: the paperwork the warden will ask for, power cuts, and the weather in your new city. Bring what is hard to replace and buy the rest near campus, because your space will usually be one cupboard and the area under your bed. Below is a packing list by category, the steps for move-in day, and a checklist for your first week.

Documents to bring

The hostel will want copies for its records and, in many cases, for police registration. Lahore Police list the tenant's CNIC copy and photograph among the papers needed to register a tenant, and they say this applies when "a hostel room is rented". Your university will ask for papers too.

• [ ] CNIC, plus four or five photocopies. If you are under 18, your B-form (Form-B) instead
• [ ] A copy of your parent's or guardian's CNIC, and their phone numbers
• [ ] University admission letter, fee receipt and student card (or the admission email, printed, until the card arrives)
• [ ] Six to eight passport-size photos. Make them at home with the passport photo maker and print them at a photocopy shop
• [ ] Hostel booking confirmation, payment receipts and screenshots of what was agreed in chat
• [ ] Copies of your academic certificates, if the university still needs them
• [ ] A note of your blood group, allergies and any regular medicines

Photograph every document and combine the photos into one file with this JPG to PDF tool. Keep it on your phone and in your email. If an online form rejects a photo for being too large, the image compressor shrinks it to the size it asks for.

Hostel packing list

Bedding and room

• [ ] Two bedsheets, a pillow and two pillow covers
• [ ] A mattress cover, because hostel mattresses have had many owners
• [ ] Blanket or razai, depending on the season
• [ ] Two padlocks (cupboard and suitcase). Leave a spare key at home
• [ ] Hangers, a laundry bag and clothes pegs
• [ ] Two towels and washroom slippers
• [ ] A prayer mat, if you use one

Study

• [ ] Laptop and charger, a USB drive, notebooks and stationery
• [ ] A scientific calculator if your course needs one
• [ ] A rechargeable LED desk lamp, so you can study through load-shedding
• [ ] Earphones, because roommates sleep and study at different times

Kitchen and mess

• [ ] Your own mug, plate, spoon and glass, even if the mess provides meals
• [ ] A refillable water bottle
• [ ] Airtight jars for snacks, so ants don't get to them first
• [ ] An electric kettle, only if the hostel rules allow it

Toiletries and cleaning

• [ ] Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb and nail cutter
• [ ] Washing powder and a small brush for clothes
• [ ] Tissues and hand sanitiser
• [ ] Mosquito repellent
• [ ] Personal hygiene items for the first month

Electronics for load-shedding

• [ ] An extension board with a fuse or surge protection. Plug points are often far from the bed
• [ ] A power bank that can charge your phone at least twice
• [ ] A rechargeable torch or LED light
• [ ] A long charging cable
• [ ] A rechargeable fan for summer, if the hostel's backup doesn't run the fans
• [ ] A mobile data package as a backup when the Wi-Fi goes down

Medicines and first aid

• [ ] A month's supply of any regular medicine, with a copy of the prescription
• [ ] Paracetamol, ORS sachets, plasters, antiseptic and a thermometer
• [ ] Your family doctor's number, for questions before you find a local clinic

Weather-specific items

Ask before you pack whether your room has any heating or cooling. If you rely on a gas heater in winter, read the gas safety section of our student accommodation safety guide first.

Moving into a hostel on day one: step by step

1. Arrive in daylight if you can, with the warden's number saved. Share your live location with family until you are inside.
2. Record the room's condition before you unpack. Take photos and a short video of walls, mattress, furniture, fan, taps and washroom. Send them to the owner in chat so both of you have a dated copy. This is your evidence when the deposit is returned. Our guide to security deposits and advance rent explains why it matters.
3. Photograph the meter if electricity is charged by sub-meter, so the reading on day one is on record.
4. List what's in the room (bed, mattress, cupboard, chair, AC remote) and get the owner or warden to confirm the list in writing.
5. Check the keys. Test the locks, find out how many keys exist and who else holds one.
6. Pay and collect receipts for anything due on arrival. Get a signed receipt for cash, and keep a photo of every receipt on your phone.
7. Hand over your documents for the hostel's records and ask whether they have registered you with the police.
8. Meet the warden and save the numbers of the warden, owner, guard and mess in-charge, plus 15 (police) and 1122 (rescue).
9. Find the safety basics: the fire extinguisher, the second exit, the main gas valve and the main electricity switch.
10. Test everything: taps, geyser, fan, plug points and Wi-Fi. Report anything broken in writing on day one, so it's clear you didn't cause it.

Your first week

• [ ] Set a routine. Put class times, mess times and the gate closing time into one plan. The study planner helps you block out study hours
• [ ] Do the commute once at real class time. Learn where the university point stops, or the metro route, and note what the trip costs
• [ ] Start tracking money from day one. Note rent, mess, transport, mobile, laundry and printing. Our student budget guide shows what to plan for
• [ ] Agree roommate rules early: lights-off time, guests, cleaning turns, AC or heater use, phone calls at night, and sharing food. Write them in a group chat so nobody "forgets"
• [ ] Split shared costs fairly. If you share a flat or pay bills between roommates, use the bill split calculator
• [ ] Find the nearby essentials: pharmacy, clinic or hospital, general store, ATM, dhobi and photocopy shop
• [ ] Join the hostel's WhatsApp group for notices about water, power and mess changes
• [ ] Call home at a fixed time each day for the first week. It helps you and reassures your family

Common mistakes to avoid

• Packing too much. You will have one cupboard. Buy buckets, hangers and cleaning supplies near the hostel.
• Not photographing the room. Without move-in photos, it is hard to argue against deposit deductions.
• Keeping cash in the room. Keep money in your bank account or mobile wallet, and lock away your laptop and phone when you leave.
• Overloading a cheap extension board or leaving devices charging on your bed overnight.
• Sleeping with a gas heater on in a closed room.
• Agreeing things only by voice. Mess changes, refund promises and bill splits should be in a message.
• Ignoring small roommate problems until they turn into big ones. Raise them calmly in the first week.
• Skipping mess meals and ordering food every night. It adds up quickly when you are paying for the mess anyway.

If you haven't booked yet, check the place first with our hostel checklist before booking.

Frequently asked questions

What documents do I need for a hostel in Pakistan?

Bring your CNIC (or B-form if you are under 18) with several photocopies, a parent's CNIC copy, your university admission letter or student card, six to eight passport-size photos, and the receipts for anything you have already paid. The hostel may also need copies to register you with the police.

What should I pack for a hostel in winter?

Pack a razai or heavy blanket, thermal inners, warm socks and slippers, a hot water bottle, and moisturiser. Ask whether the room has any heating, and don't plan to sleep with a gas heater on in a closed room.

Should I bring my own mattress to the hostel?

Ask the hostel first. If a mattress is provided, bring a mattress cover instead: it keeps a used mattress clean and is far easier to carry.

What should I do on the first day in a hostel?

Photograph the room's condition before unpacking, note the meter reading, confirm the room's contents in writing, check the keys, collect receipts for every payment, and save the numbers of the warden, owner and emergency services.

Sources

• Lahore Police: Tenants Registration