The order
| Order | Task | Why here |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Local SIM | No registration happens without a phone number |
| 2 | Address registration | Banks and authorities want proof of address |
| 3 | Identity / tax number | The key to nearly everything in the Nordics and Italy |
| 4 | Bank account | Requires all of the above |
| 5 | Transport card | Student rate, often needs a bank card |
1. SIM card
You can buy one at the airport, but airport plans are almost always more expensive. Waiting a day or two and buying in the city or from an online operator is much cheaper.
- Start with prepaid — post-paid contracts usually require a local bank account and address
- Bring your passport; SIM registration is mandatory across Europe
- Ask whether there is a student plan — many operators have one and will not mention it
- If your phone supports eSIM, an international eSIM covers your first two days
2. Address registration
Almost every European country requires you to register where you live — with the municipality, civil registration office or police. It is not a formality: the certificate from that registration is what banks, insurers and authorities will ask for.
Bring your tenancy agreement or dormitory letter. In a dormitory the university usually issues the document for you.
3. Identity or tax number
Different names in each country, and it is the key to everything — details in the separate guide. In short: codice fiscale in Italy, personnummer in Sweden, CPR in Denmark, a personal identity code in Finland, EGN in Bulgaria.
4. Bank account — where most people get stuck
Usually required: passport; residence permit or the application receipt; proof of address; the university's enrolment letter; and the identity or tax number, depending on the country.
⚠️ The problem is circular: the bank wants proof of address, the landlord wants a bank account, the employer wants both.
How to break the loop: start with a digital bank operating legitimately in Europe (Revolut, N26, Wise and similar). These typically open an account online on your passport and an address, issue an IBAN and post a card. Use it to pay rent, receive wages and live day to day — then move to a traditional bank at your leisure once the paperwork is complete. Many students spend a difficult first two months simply for want of knowing this.
Do still open a local traditional account eventually — some landlords, scholarships and employers will not pay to anything but a local IBAN.
5. Transport card
Almost every European city offers substantial student discounts — 50% in some places, and in others a semester ticket bundled into the university fee.
- You will need the student ID and proof of enrolment
- Semester or annual passes are usually far cheaper than monthly ones
- ⚠️ Never travel without a ticket. Fines are typically EUR 60–120 and go on record. "Everyone does it" is not true, and on a student visa the risk makes no sense
First-week checklist
- 1Buy a SIM and share the number
- 2Register your address
- 3Apply for the identity or tax number
- 4Open a digital bank account; book an appointment at a local bank
- 5Collect your student ID
- 6Get the transport card
- 7Visit the university's international office once — they help most with all of the above, and it is free
Official sources — check for yourself
Rules and figures change. We review these articles periodically and show the date above, but always confirm the current requirement with the official source before you act on it.
Common questions
Why can I not open a bank account?+
Usually a circular problem — the bank wants proof of address, the landlord wants a bank account. The way through is to open an account with a digital bank operating legitimately in Europe, which typically needs only a passport and an address, then move to a traditional bank once your paperwork is complete.
Where should I buy a SIM?+
Not at the airport, where plans cost more. Wait a day or two and buy prepaid in the city — post-paid contracts usually require a local bank account. Bring your passport, and ask about student plans, which operators rarely volunteer.
What happens if I travel without a ticket?+
Fines are typically EUR 60–120 and go on record. On a student visa there is no sensible reason to take that risk, particularly when almost every city offers large student discounts.
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