Need a special gift for a friend who’s moving abroad? This post has the BEST ideas for a gift for someone moving abroad (and I’m an expat myself, so rest assured: these recommendations are GOOD!)
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My Tips for a Gift For Someone Moving Abroad
First of all, remember that your friend is MOVING. Giving them another big item to squeeze into their suitcase may be more of a burden than a blessing.
One friend of mine gave me a REALLY thick biography with almost 600 pages – it was HUGE, and quite heavy, as well. I ended up leaving it behind with my sister, sadly!
Unless it’s something that you know will mean a lot to your friend, like a custom throw blanket or something else bulky but personal, then I’d stick with something easy to pack.
Here are my recommendations below, divided into 3 categories: practical, fun, and sentimental.
Practical Gift Ideas
You definitely won’t have to worry about your gift being a burdensome one with these recommendations!
1. Packing Cubes: The Carry-On Lifesaver!
I’m putting these packing cubes first because honestly, they are the BEST! They’re one of those things that seems excessive…until you actually use them.
Basically, it’s a great way to organize your packing. I have only used them in my carry-on, but even there it’s such a big help.
Trust me – even if your friend seems skeptical, they will probably end up falling in love with packing cubes. It’s a perfect, super thoughtful gift for someone moving abroad!
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2. Travel Toiletry Bag
Much of the time, when people move abroad, they end up traveling more. So a travel toiletry bag will probably be a SUPER welcome gift for your friend who’s moving abroad!
This particular bag comes in other colors than pink – so it would be a great gift for a guy, as well!
My FAVORITE feature of this bag is that it folds out and has a hanger, so you can pop it on a towel rack rather than having clutter all over your hotel’s tiny sink!
You really can’t go wrong with a gift like this for an up and coming expat!
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3. A Wire-Organizer For Electronics
While packing cubes already do wonders for organization, this wire organizer will take things to the next level!
With spots for charging bricks, airpods, individual wire pockets, and other spaces for storage, this will not only make going through security a BREEZE, but it will make life SO much easier while traveling!
I can’t say just how many times wires would get lost in my bag or tangle with things and cause a mess. Not anymore!
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4. A Portable Charger: The Travelers’ Lifeline!
Let me list all of the times when a portable charger saved my day while living abroad:
Just kidding, there isn’t time for that. Because it’s at least 20 times a year.
I need my phone for translating apps, for navigating, for SO many things that I didn’t need in my home country. The number of times my phone DIED on me and I was left almost stranded trying to get home is remarkable.
This gift will DEFINITELY come in handy for a friend moving abroad!
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5. A Multi-Tool: The Gift They Didn’t Know They Needed!
When I moved abroad, I wasn’t prepared for all of the little assembly jobs that would take place around my apartment. Plus, finding screwdrivers, bottle openers and so on was a bit tough with my lack of language skills.
Thankfully, I did have a mini multi-tool with me, and I was SO GLAD that I brought it because I was using it (and loaning it to friends!) ALL the time!
(Just make sure that your friend knows that they SHOULDN’T pack this in their carry-on. Check-in luggage, only!)
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6. A Travel Neck Pillow
Flying can suck. And when you’re moving abroad, your flight isn’t going to be a cute 3-hour hop; it’s going to be a doozy.
When in doubt, a neck pillow is always a good idea, especially a solid and supportive one like the one I’m linking here (it’s not the one I have; I think it’s better. It has lots of really great reviews).
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Fun Gift Ideas
For a gift that’s less practical and more recreational, check out these suggestions!
1. A “Scratch off” Travel Map
This gift is PERFECT because it comes rolled up in a tube, so it’s super easy to transport!
Usually, one of the perks of moving abroad is traveling to other countries while abroad. Why not fuel your friend’s travel passion by giving them this super cool scratch-off travel map?
Another bonus: it can easily be framed or tacked to a wall, so your friend can have their own decor in their new home.
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2. A Passport Holder Wallet
It’s not uncommon when living abroad to need to take your passport with you out and about. Plus, expats often acquire new bank cards, insurance cards, SIM cards, and so on when living abroad.
This passport holder/wallet is perfect for holding it all! Not to mention that the leather cover is the stuff of wanderlust dreams.
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3. A Travel Book for the City/Country They’re moving To
Lonely Planet makes SUPER detailed books specific to plenty of countries and major cities.
I have their book on China, as well as one about basic Mandarin phrases and words. Their books contain a lot of practical advice for daily life and not just general tourism stuff. So they make a great gift!
I’m linking to their book on Beijing (since that’s where I live), but you can easily use the link to start searching for the city/country you need.
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4. A Personalized Jewelry Box
I lived for 4 years abroad without a travel jewelry box, and I don’t know how I did.
This one is even CUTER than the one I have, though, because you can get your friend’s initial on it!
Seriously these boxes are just game changing. No lost earrings or tangled necklaces. Plus, you can even put a little something cute inside of it (like the bracelet I’m linking later in this post!) to take it up a notch.
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5. A Suitcase Handle COffee/Phone Holder
I’m putting this gift under “fun” because it’s one of those things that will remind your coffee and travel addicted friend just how much you love them.
This is a cup and phone holder which can slide over a suitcase handle! Talk about convenient! Plus it comes in SO many different colors and patterns.
So many airport experiences get ruined by spilled coffee or dropped phones while bumbling along towards the gate. What better way to remind your friend even while they’re on the road that “you’ve got their back”?
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6. A BOok For The Road to Inspire & Entertain
I read a LOT (like 3-5 books per month) and Eat, Pray, Love is STILL one of my favorite books about expats, hands-down!
If your friend hasn’t read it, it’s one of those books that is so well written and fun to read that you’ll get sucked right into it. Plus its all about a woman who moves abroad during a crazy season of life.
Whether for the flight, or for a quiet night in after settling into their new home, this book is a perfect gift for a friend who’s moving abroad, in my opinion!
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Sentimental Gift Ideas For Someone Moving Abroad
Is this your sibling, child, or BFF who’s moving abroad? Then you probably feel like you’d give them a piece of your own heart, if you could. These gift ideas have a loving, sentimental touch to them.
And hear me out as someone who’s lived abroad for five years: when you’re homesick, these gifts are NOT cheesy!!! They will mean SO much in those moments when your friend is missing home!
1. A Long-Distance Friendship Keychain
There’s nothing happier than that moment when you reunite and get to put your matching keychains together!
I got one of these for a long-distance bestie before, and our keychains were able to meet in 3 different countries! It made for some pretty cute photos!
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2. A Travel Journal
What better way to show support for your friend than to give them a space for all of the memories, struggles, and emotions they’ll have during their new adventure?
This journal is again the perfect vibe and look for travel-addicts. It’s simple, elegant, and epic.
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3. A Film-Roll with All Your Favorite Memories
I got this gift for my fiancé years ago, and it’s probably still one of my favorite gifts I’ve given to-date.
After you buy it, you can submit photos to go on the film roll, and they will print them and send them to you. In the end, you’ll have a cute, very compact, and vintage-looking memory reel!
It’s the perfect gift to send memories along with your friend who’s moving abroad.
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4. An Engraved Bracelet
This bracelet is engraved inside: “Miles apart, friends always close at heart”. It’s simple, chic, and a very sweet way to let your friend know you’re with them.
There are other options for the engraving, as well, which you can explore by checking the product out here.
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5. A “Pocket Hug”
Okay, I know that this one may sound dumb to some people…but trust me, when living abroad, you get homesick. And when you get homesick, these little gifts become so unspeakably precious!
This “pocket hug” has tons of options for the back, including messages for children, cousins, friends, or just an inspirational quote.
It’s super cute, and is sure to make your friend who is moving abroad smile on a tough day.
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6. A Compass for Symbolic guidance
While this compass is totally functional, I don’t know many people who use an actual compass these days.
However, this compass can serve as a reminder to your friend or loved one that you’ll find your way to be together soon.
It’s pocket-sized, symbolic, beautiful, and has a lovely engraving, as well.
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Summary
These are some of the BEST and most useful, sweet, and sure-to-be-loved gift ideas for someone moving abroad!
Again, as an expat, I can confidently say that every item on this list would have been a welcome and wonderful addition to everything I was bringing with me. You can’t lose with these recommendations!
If you were struggling with gift ideas, I hope this post was super helpful for you! Have some other gift ideas for someone moving abroad? I’d love to hear them in the comments!
You May Also Like:
What Is Moving Abroad? Full Picture from an Expat
COMPLETE Expat Moving Abroad Checklist (Made by an Expat!)
What To Pack When Moving Abroad: REALISTIC Advice!
